human
What do you think of me?
gpt
But I do think, my dear, she said with an effort to laugh,
human
I had no thought of frightening you. Oh, I am afraid I had no thought for anything but my own troubles. Did you know? Did you guess?
gpt
I knew about Pulaski, but I had to go away from home to learn the news about you. Madame Awtry called my attention to it, and then with my eyes upon, I could see a great many things that were not visible before.
human
Why, how could she know? cried Margaret.
gpt
I have talked with her not more than a half dozen times.
human
She is a very wise woman,
gpt
Well, when I get in love, I'll not visit Madame Awtry,
human
My dear, you have been there once too often,
gpt
Why, what has she been telling you?
human
I'll not disclose your secrets, Nan,
gpt
I would thank you kindly, if I had any,
human
Nan, she said,
gpt
Not for long, Nan. Say a couple of weeks.
human
Oh, for longer than that,
gpt
You must remember that I am getting old, child,
human
So am I, sir, she said archly.
gpt
I am quite as old as you are, I think.
human
This is the first quarrel, Nan declared,
gpt
I declare, Nan, you talk like an old woman!
human
I hope you will come to see me occasionally, Mr. Tomlin, and you too, Aunt Fanny, she said with mock formality.
gpt
We shall have days for receiving company, just as the fine ladies do in the cities; and you'll have to send in your cards.
human
It is so small and stuffy, said Margaret to Neighbour Tomlin,
gpt
She went close to him.
human
Oh, is it all true? Is it really and truly true, or is it a dream?
gpt
It is true, he said, kissing her.
human
It is a dream, but it is my dream come true.
gpt
I didn't think, she said, as she went along with Nan,
human
Mr. Sanders says, replied Nan,
gpt
Your day is still to come, said Margaret,
human
You say that, remarked Nan,
gpt
Huh! we know dem trouble w'en we see um. Dee ain't no trouble now. She done gone--dem trouble. But yan' come mo'.
human
Howdy, girls? I'm truly glad to see you. You are looking well both of you, and health is a great blessing. I have just been to Lucy Lumsden's, Nan, and she thinks a great deal of you. I could tell you things that would turn your head. But I'm really sorry for Lucy; she's almost as lonely as I am. They say Gabriel is sure to be dealt with; I'm told there is no other way out of it. Have you two heard anything? Margaret and Nan shook their heads, but gestures of that kind were not at all satisfactory to Miss Polly.
gpt
They say that little Cephas was sent down to prepare Gabriel for the worst. But I didn't say a word about that to Lucy, and if you two girls go there, you must be very careful not to drop a word about it. Lucy is getting old, and she can't bear up under trouble as she used to could. She has aged wonderfully in the past few weeks. Don't you think so, Nan?
human
Don't talk so loud, my dear; you will make people think I'm a great deal deafer than I am. But you always would yell at me, though I have asked you a dozen times to speak only in ordinary tones. Well, I don't agree with you about Lucy. She has broken terribly since Gabriel was carried off; she is not the same woman, she takes no interest in affairs at all. I told her a piece of astonishing news, and she paid no more attention to it than if she hadn't heard it; and she didn't use to be that way. Well, we all have our troubles, and you two will have yours when you grow a little older. That is one thing of which there is always enough left to go around. The supply is never exhausted.
gpt
They should have better manners than to talk of the afflictions of an old woman, for it is not at all certain that they will escape.