human
He is the man I lived with till I was fourteen; one of my friends, a policeman. For a long time I supposed, of course, that Tim was my father, but when I was ten or twelve, he told me, first that I was an orphan who had been left with him to bring up, and later on, that I had a father somewhere who was not in a position to bring up children. That was all he would ever say about it. I became a student while still a little boy, having educated myself practically without instruction of any sort, and when I was fourteen I left Tim because he married at that time, and, with the quarreling and drinking that followed, the house became unbearable. Tim then told me for the first time that he had, from some source, funds equivalent to twenty-five dollars a month for my board, and that he would allow me fifteen of that, keeping ten dollars a month for his services as agent. You follow all this perfectly? So matters went along for ten years, Tim bringing me the fifteen dollars every month and coming frequently to see me in between, often bringing along his brother Murphy, who is a yeggman. Last fall came this letter, purporting to be from my father. Absurd as it appeared to me, I decided to come. Tim said that, in that case, he would be compelled to cut off the allowance entirely. Nevertheless, I came.
gpt
And now that you are here--and settled--haven't you decided to do something--?
human
Do something! Haven't I done all that he asked? Haven't I given up fifteen dollars a month for him? Decidedly, the next move is his.
gpt
But if you meant to take no steps when you got here, why did you come?
human
To give him his chance, of course. One city is exactly like another to me. All that I ask of any of them is a table and silence. Apart from the forfeiture of my income, living here and living there are all one. Do! You talk of it glibly enough, but what is there to do? There are no Queeds in this city. I looked in the directory this morning. In all probability that is not his name anyway. Kindly bear in mind that I have not the smallest clue to proceed upon, even had I the time and willingness to proceed upon it.
gpt
I am obliged to agree with you, she said,
human
Besides, continued Doctor Queed,
gpt
Do you care to have me discuss it with you?
human
Oh, yes, I have invited an expression of opinion from you.
gpt
Then I agree with you in thinking that your father is not treating you fairly. His attitude toward you is extraordinary, to say the least of it. But of course there must be some good reason for this. Has it occurred to you that he may be in some--situation where it is not possible for him to reveal himself to you?
human
Such as what?
gpt
Well, I don't know--
human
Why doesn't he say so plainly in his letters then?
gpt
I don't know.
human
Here is another thought, said Sharlee, not at all disconcerted.
gpt
Have you considered that possibly he may be doing this way--as a test?
human
Test of what?
gpt
Of you. I mean that, wanting to--to have you with him now, he is taking this way of finding out whether or not you want him. Don't you see what I mean? He appeals here to the natural feelings of a son, and then again he tells you to make friends and learn to like people. Evidently he is expecting something of you--I don't know exactly what. But don't you think, perhaps, that if you began a search for him, he would take it as a sign--
human
I told you that there was no way in which a search, as you call it, could be begun. Nor, if there were, have I the smallest inclination to begin it. Nor, again, if I had, could I possibly take the time from My Book.
gpt
There is, of course, one way in which you could find out at any moment.
human
Indeed! What is that, pray?
gpt
Mr. Tim Queed.
human
Hardly. Of course Tim knows all about it. He told me once that he was present at the wedding of my parents; another time that my mother died when I was born. But he would add, and will add, not a word to these confidences; not even to assure me definitely that my father is still alive. He says that he has sworn an oath of secrecy. I called on him before I left New York. No, no; I may discover my father or he may discover me, or not, but we can rest absolutely assured that I shall get no help from Tim.
gpt
But you can't mean simply to sit still--
human
And leave matters to him. I do.
gpt
But--but, she still protested,
human
Then let him come out like a man and say plainly what he wants. I cannot possibly drop my work to try to solve entirely superfluous enigmas. Keep all this in mind--take an interest in it, will you? he added briskly.
gpt
Possibly I might need your help some day.
human
Certainly I will. I appreciate your telling me about it, and I'd be so glad to help you in any way that I could.
gpt
How do you like my editorials?
human
I'm afraid I don't understand a line of them!
gpt
They are for thinkers, experts,