human
Scandal says that nothing but Sadiq Ali's direct command keeps him in the field at all, he added.
gpt
Otherwise he would sneak back to Habshiabad, and drink himself to death there in peace.
human
Well, Hal, what news? Is that blessing of mine wanted, or not?
gpt
It's no good pretending I don't know what you mean, but on my life, Bob, I can't tell you.
human
Can't tell--in a matter of this kind? Nonsense!
gpt
It's this way. Almost the whole of the time I was there I could have sworn she cared for you. We talked of nothing but you and your doings.
human
Precious little in that. You did just the same when you thought I was dead, and it meant absolutely nothing.
gpt
But it makes every possible difference when we both know you are alive. At any rate, I was too jolly downhearted to court another refusal. But just as I came away, she looked at me in a way that made me think--and something that she said----
human
And you didn't make sure? My young friend, it strikes me that you fear your fate a good deal.
gpt
Our Mr James hurried me away. But I am afraid--and I don't mind saying so--of risking my last chance.
human
Why your last? I wish I were coxcomb enough to be sure it was your last, and that you would lose it.
gpt
But even if she refused us both again, you can't go on persecuting a girl who has said no to you three times.
human
Why not? I shall go on asking her, if she says no a hundred times. It's for her own good. No girl can really wish to be an old maid.
gpt
Rather than marry you or me, perhaps.
human
That shows how little she knows about it. But I give you my word she ain't going to lose a good husband through any slackness of mine. You won't find me wasting my opportunities as you have been doing.
gpt
You pitch it pretty strong, Bob, but I believe I deserve it. Still, it was not my fault that I could not settle things that last moment. Will you do this for me, old boy? When we get back to Ranjitgarh, leave me free to speak to her if I meet her first. If I find that it is you after all, I promise you to make no attempt to persuade her, and if you meet her first, of course you will find out for yourself.
human
I believe you, my boy! And I only hope we may find out definitely. This uncertainty plays the very mischief with a man when he has time to think of it.
gpt
My dear Bob, you don't mean to say you would rather know that all was up with you than be able to go on hoping?
human
That I would! One can set one's teeth then, and grin and bear it, but it's horrid disturbing, when you're trying to give your mind to regular hard grinding work, for the thought of all that kind of thing to be always intruding.
gpt
If I didn't know you better than you know yourself, old boy, I should say not only that you didn't care a pin for her, but that you couldn't. Why, how could one carry on work at all without those very thoughts to help one?
human
You're getting libellous, Hal. It's the uncertainty, not the thoughts, that I find disturbing. If she would take me--bless her!--I'll lay you anything you like she would be the Commander-in-Chief's lady in the shortest time on record.
gpt
Bob, it's precious hard on both of us. Whichever gets her, one of us must be miserable.
human
Let us make quite sure that she's happy, then. But it's a little late to be talking like this, ain't it? What I find most cause to blame in you, Hal, is a tendency to the sentimental. Turn your mind strictly to business--namely, to receiving the orderly who is about to summon you to the presence of the high and mighty Speathley.