human
It's like life calling one back, said the strange child.
gpt
I suppose one must always go on, somewhere else. And we--we must go on, though it is sweet here.
human
It was what I was thinking of just now, I answered.
gpt
Are we to part company?
human
Why, that depends, said he abruptly,
gpt
If I ever had any, I've forgotten them, said I.
human
Look here, Little Pal, shall we join forces as far as--as far as----
gpt
The turnstile,
human
Where is the turnstile?
gpt
At the place--whatever it may be--where we get tired of each other. Isn't that what you meant?
human
According to my present views, that place might be at the other end of the world. You must remember it was never I who tried to get away from you. At the Cantine de Proz, I----
gpt
Don't let's remember to that time. Then, I didn't know that you were--You. That makes all the difference. You looked as if you might be nice, but I've learned not to trust first impressions, especially of men--grown-up men. There are such lots of people one drifts across, who are not _real_ people at all, but just shells, with little rattling nuts of dull, imitation ideas inside, taken from newspapers, or borrowed from their friends. Fancy what it would be to see glorious places with such a companion! It would drive me mad. I determined not to make aquaintances on this trip; but you--why, I feel now as if it would be almost insulting you to call you 'an acquaintance.' We are--oh, I'll take your word! We're 'pals,' and Something big that's over all meant us to be pals. I don't mind telling you, Man, that I should miss you, if we parted now.
human
We won't part, I said quickly.
gpt
We'll jog along together. Have a cigarette? I'm going to smoke a pipe, because I feel contented.
human
Could we do the St. Bernard at night?
gpt
Yes, we could, if we saved ourselves by driving up from here to St. Rhémy, after déjeuner, otherwise it would mean being on foot all day and all night too. We could send Joseph, Innocentina, and the animals on very early to-morrow morning, to the Hospice, where they might rest till evening. The good monks would give us a meal of some sort about six, and at seven we could leave the Hospice. There would be an interval of starry darkness, and then we should have the full moon.
human
Splendid to see the Pass by moonlight, after knowing it by day, and sunset, and dawn! It would be like finding out wonderful new qualities in your friends, which you'd never guessed they had.