human
It seems absolutely inconceivable! I exclaimed at length with a deep sigh.
gpt
Absolutely inconceivable that I could have treated you in this way; and only--how long ago was it?
human
You came straight to Hanover from G飆tingen.
gpt
What was I doing there?
human
I don't know? At least, you were always so close you would never tell me anything.
gpt
You saw a great deal of me, of course?
human
Well, naturally. I wasn't going to marry a man I never saw, I suppose.
gpt
No, no, of course not. Oh dear, to think of it all! I put a few more questions which she could easily answer, and when she was growing more glibly at ease I asked:
human
And how old is the child?
gpt
Eh? I don't know. Oh yes, I do, of course. Pops was nine last birthday.
human
Nine! I exclaimed. I might well be astonished, for they had muddled this part of the thing hopelessly. The child I had seen in the Thiergarten wasn't a day more than six, probably younger even.
gpt
Where was she born?
human
What does it matter where she was born, so long as she was born somewhere, she said, flushing so vividly that it showed under her rouge. Clearly she did not know where
gpt
was supposed to have been born.
human
What does matter is what you're going to do about it.
gpt
There's only one thing any honourable man would think of doing, Anna. I shall make you my wife at once,
human
I didn't say I wanted that, did I?
gpt
There's the child, Anna; and neither you nor I can afford to think of our own wishes;
human
Are you in earnest?
gpt
I hold the strongest views in such cases. The best plan will be for me to arrange about the marriage at once, to-day indeed; and probably to-morrow or the next day we can be married.
human
But I---- She pulled up suddenly. It looked as if she was going to protest she wouldn't marry a man she'd never seen before.
gpt
I'd like to think about it,
human
But why any need to think? You showed this afternoon how bitterly you resented my desertion and, unless you were play-acting, how much you still care for me. So why delay when I am willing? It is true that I can't pretend to care for you as I used, but it may all come back again to me. We'll hope so, at any rate.
gpt
But you're engaged to that rich cousin of yours, aren't you?
human
I should not allow that engagement to interfere with my duty to you, Anna.
gpt
You must have changed a lot, then.
human
I hope I have, if you're not really mistaken about my being the man you think. But I'll go and see about our wedding;
gpt
Wait a bit, she cried, flustered and perplexed.
human
I didn't expect you to--to give in quite so--quite like this, she added, laughing nervously.
gpt
It isn't a bit like I was led--what I expected. Do you mean really and truly that you're ready to marry me straight off like this?
human
I pledge you my sacred word of honour that if I've treated you as you say I'll marry you as soon as it can be done.
gpt
You--you've taken my breath away almost, was how she put it; and she sat twisting and untwisting her fingers nervously, not in the least seeing how to meet the unexpected difficulty.
human
I must have time to think it over,
gpt
Why?
human
Oh, I don't know; but it's--it's so sudden.
gpt
There's, the child, Anna,
human
Oh, bother the child. I mean I'm thinking of myself. This hurriedly, as she turned to stare out of the window.
gpt
Do you know the sort of life I've been living?
human
Whatever it is, it must be my fault, and I don't care what you've been doing. I drove you to it. There's our child, remember.