human
Where shall you be this summer? she said, slowly.
gpt
Perhaps we shall be there too.
human
Forgive me, he said;
gpt
I am in love with some one else.
human
What do you mean!
gpt
Only what I have said.
human
Why should you say it to me?
gpt
I thought you might be--interested.
human
You are mistaken. I am not in the least interested. Why should I be?
gpt
Are you not a little unkind?
human
Not more unkind than you are insolent.
gpt
I ask your pardon with the deepest humility, Miss Stowe. The insolence of which you accuse me was as far as possible from my mind. If I thought you might be somewhat interested in what I have told you, it was because you have honored me with some small share of your attention during the past week or two; probably it has spoiled me.
human
I have; and for a month or two, not a week or two. But there was a motive--It was an experiment.
gpt
You have used me for experimental purposes, then?
human
Yes.
gpt
I am immensely grateful to have been considered worthy of a part in an experiment of yours, even although a passive one. May I ask if the experiment is ended?
human
It is.
gpt
Since when? Since I made that confession about some one else?
human
I knew all the while that you were in love--hopelessly in love--with Mrs. Lovell, she said, with a proud smile.
gpt
That was the reason that, for my experiment, I selected _you_.
human
You thought you would have the greater triumph?
gpt
I thought nothing of the kind. I thought that I should be safe, because you would not respond.
human
And you did not wish me to respond?
gpt
I did not.
human
Excuse me--we are speaking frankly, are we not?--but do you not contradict yourself somewhat? You say you did not wish me to respond; yet, have you not tried to make me?
gpt
That was not my object. It was but a necessary accompaniment of the experiment.
human
And if I _had_ responded?
gpt
I knew you could not. I knew quite well--I mean I could imagine quite well--how much you loved Beatrice. But it has all been a piece of folly upon my part--I see it now. She turned away, and went across to the piano.
human
I wish you would go now, she said, in a low voice, vaguely turning over the music.