human
It's very satisfactory to me, old man, he said, between quiet puffs at his cigar,
gpt
Yes; I knew that. I've meant to congratulate you when the time came. I should say it had come now.
human
Thanks, old man. I scarcely expected you to be so well posted. May I ask how--?
gpt
Oh, I've known it a long time. Miss Strange told me before I went to South America last spring.
human
Hands off!
gpt
As a matter of fact, I've never congratulated _you_, he said, with apparent tranquillity.
human
I've known about you and Evie for some time past, but--
gpt
Oh, that's all off. In the existing circumstances Evie didn't feel like--keeping the thing up.
human
That's too bad. You've been pretty hard hit--what? When a fellow is as game as you a girl should stand by him, come now! But I know Evie. I've known her from her cradle. She'll back round, you'll see. When we've pulled you through, as we're going to, she'll take another view of things. I know for a fact that she's been head over heels in love with you ever since her trip to Buenos Aires.
gpt
We can all help in that, old boy; and you can count on us--both on Miss Strange and me. No one has such influence over Evie as Miriam, and I know she's very keen on seeing you and her--you and Evie, I mean--hit it off. I don't mind telling you that, as a matter of fact, it's been Miriam's anxiety on Evie's account that has mixed me up in your case at all. I don't say that I haven't got interested in you for your own sake; but it was she who stirred me up in the first place. It's going to mean a lot to her to see you get through--and marry Evie.