human
I didn't know you were here, she said, apologetically;
gpt
I'll go away if you want to be alone.
human
Come in, said Marjorie, making room for her on the bench.
gpt
Were you looking for me?
human
I came to cry,
gpt
To cry? repeated Marjorie in surprise;
human
Because you're going away,
gpt
I didn't know you cared so much, she said.
human
You'll have Aunt Jessie, and you're so fond of her.
gpt
I shall miss you dreadfully, whispered Undine tremulously.
human
You've been so good to me, and--and you were the first one to believe in me. All the rest thought I was telling stories, even Miss Jessie.
gpt
I couldn't help believing you, said Marjorie, laughing.
human
When you looked at me with those big eyes of yours, and told me all those strange things, I felt sure they were true, though it was the queerest story I had ever heard. I think I should have to believe every word you ever told me.
gpt
I don't think your uncle believes it all even yet, she said.
human
He looks at me so queerly sometimes that it makes me uncomfortable. I wish you were not going away with him.
gpt
Oh, he is very kind, said Marjorie, loyally.
human
It's so good of him to be willing to take me to New York, and send me to school for the whole winter. I'm sorry you don't like him, Undine.
gpt
Well, he may be kind, but he isn't nearly as nice as your father and mother. How do you know you are going to like New York?
human
Oh, I am sure I shall like it, as soon as I get used to things there. Marjorie spoke with forced cheerfulness and choked down a rising lump in her throat.
gpt
You see, it isn't like going to live among strangers, she went on, as much for the sake of reassuring herself as her friend.
human
I shall be with my own uncle and aunt, and then there will be Elsie.
gpt
Perhaps you won't like Elsie; you've never seen her.
human
Why, of course I shall like her. She's my own cousin, and only three months older than I am. I have always thought that having a cousin was the next best thing to having a sister.
gpt
I wonder if I ever had a sister, Undine remarked irrelevantly.
human
Somehow I don't believe I had, for when I say the word 'sister' it never makes my heart beat the way it does when I say 'Mother.' I know I had a mother, and I think I must have loved her very much.
gpt
Perhaps that's because you've grown to love my mother, Marjorie suggested;
human
I don't know, she said, with a sigh;
gpt
I don't know anything. Oh, Marjorie, do you think I shall ever remember?
human
I'm sure you will, said Marjorie confidently,
gpt
I try not to worry, she said,
human
Look here, Undine, said Marjorie, with a sudden determination,
gpt
I'm going to let you in to a great secret. You must promise not to speak to any one about it, even Mother, for if it should never come to anything it would be such a dreadful disappointment to everybody.
human
I won't tell,
gpt
It's about Aunt Jessie. Uncle Henry was speaking of Aunt Jessie one day, and he thinks it such a pity a good surgeon couldn't see her. He says she might be helped a great deal. There are no good surgeons here, but Uncle Henry says there are a great many in New York, and I've been thinking--oh, Undine, I'm almost afraid to say it, it seems so presumptuous--but just suppose I should meet a surgeon in New York, and be able to persuade him to come here to see Aunt Jessie, and suppose he should cure her! It's the one hope that keeps me up every time I feel like breaking down at the idea of going so far away from everybody.
human
It would be perfectly beautiful, Undine agreed warmly,
gpt
I don't know, she said.
human
If he knew her I'm sure he would come--any one would--but if he had never even heard of her existence it would be different, of course. I don't know how I'm going to manage it; I only know it's the thing I want most in the whole world, and I'm going to try for it with all my might.