human
My silence! he murmured;
gpt
Let us not quarrel, she went on, pleased with the effect of her words. There are women who would rather stab a man in the heart, and so make some impression on him, than to see him cold and callous to what they say or think.
human
It is foolish to quarrel after four years and more of absence.
gpt
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, said Lawrence.
human
Yes, Mrs. Cassilis, it is foolish to quarrel. Still I suppose it is old habit. And besides----
gpt
When a man has nothing else to say, he sneers.
human
When a woman has nothing else to say, she makes a general statement.
gpt
At all events, Lawrence, you are unchanged since I left you at that hotel to which you refer so often. Are its memories pleasing to you?
human
No; they are not. Are they to you? Come, Mrs. Cassilis, this is foolish. You told me you had something to say to me. What is it?
gpt
I wanted to say this. When we parted----
human
Oh, hang it! cried the man,
gpt
When we two parted --she set her thin lips together as if she was determined to let him off no single word--
human
By Gad, I believe they were! said Lawrence.
gpt
We had a blazing row; and Janet stood by with her calm Scotch face, and, 'Eh, sir! Eh, madam!' I remember.
human
I might retaliate on you.
gpt
You did then, Mrs. Cassilis. You let me have it in a very superior style. No need to retaliate any more.
human
I might tell you now that you are heartless and cold. I might tell you----
gpt
It seems that you are telling me all this without any use of the potential mood.
human
That if you have any lingering kindness for me, even if you have any resentment for my conduct, you would pity the lonely and companionless life I lead.
gpt
Your son is nearly a year old, I believe?
human
What is a baby?
gpt
Come, Mrs. Cassilis, it is all no use. I cannot help you. I would not if I could. Hang it! it would be too ridiculous for me to interfere. Think of the situation. Here we are, we three; I first, you in the middle, and Mr. Cassilis third. You and I know, and he does not suspect. On the stage, the man who does not suspect always looks a fool. No French novel comes anywhere near this position of things. Make yourself miserable if you like, and make me uncomfortable; but for Heaven's sake, don't make us all ridiculous! As things are, so you made them. Tell me--what did you do it for?
human
Speak to me kindly, Lawrence, and I will tell you all. After that dreadful day I went back to the old life. Janet and I made up something--never mind what. Janet was as secret as the grave. The old life--Oh, how stupid and dull it was! Two years passed away. You were gone, never to return, as you said. Janet died. And Mr. Cassilis came.
gpt
Well?
human
Well, I was poor. With my little income I had to live with friends, and be polite to people I detested. I saw a chance for freedom; Mr. Cassilis offered me that, at least. And I accepted him. Say you forgive me, Lawrence.
gpt
Forgive! What a thing to ask or to say!
human
It was a grievous mistake. I wanted a man who could feel with me and appreciate me.
gpt
Yes, he said.
human
I know. Appreciation--appreciation. Perhaps you got it, and at a truer estimate than you thought. I have sometimes found, Mrs. Cassilis, in the course of my travels, people who make themselves miserable because others do not understand their own ideals. If these people could only label themselves with a few simple descriptive sentences,--such as 'I am good; I am great; I am full of lofty thoughts; I am noble; I am wise; I am too holy for this world;' and so on,--a good deal of unhappiness might be saved. Perhaps you might even now try on this method with Mr. Cassilis.
gpt
Cold and sneering,