human
The Sanctuary
gpt
I'm waiting to see Sonia,
human
With any luck she's out at a dance and won't be back till about four. I've induced Beresford to clear out, but I don't want her to be frightened or wonder where he is.
gpt
I didn't put it on the ground that he was falling in love with Sonia, he said,
human
He filled a pipe and lurched wearily round the room in search of matches.
gpt
The only danger for Sonia is from a man who'll bully her, he drawled.
human
When she was engaged to Jim Loring, he behaved like an extra lady's maid; she might still be blowing hot and cold with Raney, if he hadn't shewn her very definitely who had the stronger will. It was at the very beginning of the war, and he was quite ruthless.... Last time he saw her, poor old Raney....
gpt
You know them both pretty well, don't you?
human
Yes. And the next question is, why did they marry? I can't answer that. They were in love, but that's more a reason than an excuse.... Yes, I've known 'em both for years. And for years I've tried to restrain Sonia's destiny when I saw it going to her head. Oh, by the way, Beresford's by no means my only success. I don't know whether Grayle's a friend of yours, but I dislike him--always did, when I was in the House with him--and the other day I thought it was time to interfere; you couldn't stir a yard without running into them. This time I didn't bother about approaching the man--that would have been too great a waste of time,--but I talked to Sonia until she promised never to have Grayle inside the house again and never to meet him of malice aforethought. Which you will admit is a fairly comprehensive victory.
gpt
Mrs. O'Rane seems to be a whole-time job,
human
She's all that, he grunted.
gpt
Mark you, I'm fond of her in spite of herself.... But I'm fonder of Raney, and the pair of them seem steering for disaster.... I don't know. I may be all wrong. I'm a bachelor and I've never had to humour a woman.... Here, I've finished this. I'll walk with you as far as the club.
human
The Sanctuary.
gpt
If you'd known Raney as long as I have, it would be just the thing you'd expect of him--all taken _au grand sérieux_, too, of course. As for Sonia, she'd consent to sleep in a doss-house, if she were doing it for the first time--a new experience, you know. She was prepared to put up with anything, I fancy, to get away from home and have a house of her own; and she'd have cheerfully accepted half a room in a workman's cottage when she married Raney. After four or five months of it, I should think it's beginning to pall; the caravanserai life wouldn't suit her for twenty-four hours in the day, she likes it for an hour after dinner--for more new experiences. I think, I _think_ you'll find Raney will have to drop it.... But I don't know.... There are five things that are too hard for me, and the way of a maid with a man is the hardest of them all.
human
Vanity induces men, more than reason, to act against inclination.