human
I had, of course, intended to seek you out, dear Mrs. Bransby, she said;
gpt
--here she gulped dangerously; but recovered herself and went on--
human
Locomotive,
gpt
Quite so, said Amelia, with the utmost suavity.
human
A very proper correction. Then, seeing his mischievous face dimpling with laughter, she exclaimed,
gpt
Oh, of course!--_locomotive_. Very good, Martin! Ah, I am as absent as ever, you see! Here she playfully shook her head until sundry metallic bobs upon her bonnet fell off, and had to be hunted for and picked up.
human
Well, so it was. I was hurried away by Bassy's impetuosity--although, in justice to him, I must state that the time bills were peremptory, and there was no margin for delay or deliberation--almost without a carpet bag! I had no opportunity, therefore, of inquiring of any mutual friend in Oldchester for your address.
gpt
There are scarcely any who know it, or care to know it,
human
Oh, pardon me, dear Mrs. Bransby! No, no; that must not be said, for the honour of Oldchester! Your memory is affectionately cherished by all the more refined and sympathetic souls among us. Only last week Mr. Crump, the butcher, was respectfully inquiring for news of you. You remember Crump! A worthy man, whose spirit--notwithstanding the dictum of the Swan of Avon--is by no means 'subdued to what it works in,' beyond a transient greasiness, which lies merely on the surface.
gpt
Yes; I remember him very well. But who, then, was it who directed you to this house?
human
Ah! That, again, is one of the most extraordinary circumstances! Who do you think it was?
gpt
I cannot tell at all.
human
Guess!
gpt
Miss Piper, perhaps,
human
Not _exactly_ Miss Piper, said Mrs. Simpson, with strong emphasis on the qualifying adverb, as though her informant's identity were only barely distinguishable from that of Miss Piper.
gpt
But you burn, Ethel! You are very near. However, I will not keep you longer in suspense. It was Miss Clara Bertram.
human
Oh! I might have thought of her, for she is a neighbour of ours,
gpt
Is she?
human
Yes; she lives in a house with a rather good garden, not far from here. The situation is a little inconvenient for her profession, I fancy. But she has invalid relatives, to whom the garden is a great boon. We met accidentally in the street one day, and she recognized me at once. I was surprised that she did so.
gpt
Nay, _I_ should rather have been surprised had she forgotten you, said Mrs. Simpson,
human
dear Mrs. Bransby,
gpt
I shall look in again before long, Mrs. Bransby, if you'll allow me, he said;