human
You might come closer, she suggested.
gpt
I really don't feel strong enough to-day to converse with you through a megaphone.
human
Oh, Archie! she cried, suddenly tremulous,
gpt
Terrible was not the word in his mind.
human
Outrageous, perhaps--but by no means terrible!
gpt
W-what?
human
Why, the accident! Poor, poor Lizzie! Was there anything left of her at all?
gpt
Oh, Lizzie? Well, not much except her license tag.
human
Her poor precious little license tag!... Well, that will be useful anyway, for the new machine.
gpt
I guess there isn't going to be any new machine.
human
Oh! she flushed with quick sympathy.
gpt
You mean you--you can't afford another?
human
Why, I guess the railroad company'd help to buy me another if I wanted it--the engineer didn't signal for that crossing. But--I don't. You see, he murmured, looking down,
gpt
I suppose you feel about her as I do about Peggy, she said quickly.
human
My first horse! If anything were to happen to her, I'd never feel the same about another.--I'm sorry, Archie! We've had great fun out of the little car.
gpt
Oh, what does the machine matter? he said roughly.
human
What gets my goat is what you must be thinking of me, what your father must be thinking! Of all the dod-blasted he-idiots! Not to be able to take better care of a woman than that!
gpt
I think, and so does my father, that you took wonderfully good care of me! If it hadn't been for your nerve, your quickness.... Ugh! she shuddered.
human
Dad says that not one man out of a thousand would have seen what to do in time to do it. In fact, he's waiting in the library to make you a speech before you go. Eloquence-with-gestures. Do you know, I never realized before that in some ways man is really woman's superior? You've got yourselves better in hand, your muscles do what you tell them to. It was a good lesson for me. She smiled up at him. His miserable eyes touched her, and she held out her hand.
gpt
Why, Archie! what makes you look so ashamed?
human
I'm thinking that if your father knew _all_ I'd done, he muttered,
gpt
You mean when I came to, and you--kissed me? Why did you do that? she asked, gravely. (
human
There! Now the tooth is out,
gpt
Because I was a damn fool,
human
Really, you're not very complimentary!
gpt
Because I hadn't the decent horse-gumption to keep my feelings to myself! Had to go spilling 'em all over the place, insulting you with 'em!
human
You care for me, then?
gpt
Well, what do you think?
human
I'm afraid you do.
gpt
You're dead right,
human
I guess that'll be about all from me!--Only I want you to know, Miss Darcy, I--I never meant to do such a thing--I never knew I had it in me! Good Lord! When I saw you all crumpled up there in that gully, not moving at all, even when the train-gang came to pick you up--When I knew that I had done it, I--! And then you opened your eyes and looked at me.... Oh, hell, what's the use?
gpt
Archie! Wait a minute.--I'm going to make you a speech myself. In the first place, Archibald Blair, your sort of 'feelings' wouldn't insult anybody. They couldn't! I'm proud to have you care for me, and I'd be glad, too, if only I could--But it's not as if you were asking anything in return, is it?
human
Me?--_asking_? Good Lord, I'm not such a mutt as that!
gpt
Some day you will be 'asking,' Archie dear--a worthier girl than I am, I know--and she won't think you a mutt at all!
human
No, Miss Darcy. You've sort of spoiled ordinary girls for me.
gpt
I hope not! Oh, I do hope not! Because I was going to beg you to stay friends with me--I need friends. And I _can't_ keep you if you're going to go on feeling that way!
human
Sure you can, said Archie, his eyes lighting.
gpt
Just try me and see! I'll make one of the best little old pals you ever saw, if you'll just forgive the fool way I acted. Now that the steam's sort of blown off, we--we understand each other.
human
You're certain that we _do_ understand each other? Her gaze met his squarely.
gpt
You're not going to expect things that can't ever be?
human
No, ma'am,