human
He's just as hopeless as ever, Martha complained.
gpt
I thought you would have begun to have some effect on him, by this time. The trouble is, he's been a bachelor so long and has got into such careless notions of having his own way about everything, you're going to have a bad time getting him just to behave like an ordinary human being.
human
What an outlook! Ellen laughed, coming over to her sister, and stopping on the way to help little Bob insert a refractory napkin in its silver ring.
gpt
Perhaps I'd better not waste much time trying to make him over. He really suits me pretty well, as he is,--and it doesn't strike me he's so different from the average man, when it comes to receptions. Is Jim enthusiastic over this one?
human
Oh, Jim isn't making any fuss about it, evaded Martha.
gpt
He'll be good and amiable, when the time comes. Of course, any man likes better just having a group of men smoking round the fire, or sitting down to a stag dinner, but Jim understands the necessity of doing some things just because they're expected. I really think that having a perfectly informal affair of this sort is letting them off easily. They might have had to stand a series of 'At Homes.'
human
Not in this little place. Everybody would have come to the first one, and there would have been nobody left for the rest. As it is, you will have a houseful, won't you? It's lovely of you to do it, Martha dear, and Red and I will be good, and stand in line as long as you want us.
gpt
And you won't let him get away?
human
He won't try,--though if an urgent call comes, it's not I who can keep him. But don't worry about that. It doesn't always happen, I suppose.
gpt
Pretty nearly always. But I'll hope for the best.