human
It was a dreadful thing for you to get it, she scolded,--these affectionate scoldings were a great joy to him.
gpt
It's a ridiculous thing for a poor college professor--that's you--to buy a ruby ring. Why, rubies exist just to show millionaires how rich they are! And it's a scandalous thing for a poor man's wife--that's I--to be wearing a real ruby! Then her other hand went over the ring, and clasping both to her breast she laughed gleefully:
human
But it's mine! They'll not get it now!
gpt
Who wants it, foolish child?
human
See some pictures for me in the fire, she commanded.
gpt
See something nice.
human
I see a beautiful lady wearing a beautiful ring. See?--right under that top piece of coal. The ring is growing larger and larger and larger. Now it is so large you can't see the lady at all, just nothing but the ring.
gpt
Now see one that isn't silly. See a beautiful one.
human
Liebchen, I see two people who are growing old. See?--right down here. One of them must be sixty now, and one about seventy, but they're smiling just as they did when they were young. And they're whispering that they love each other a great deal better now than they did in those days of long ago; that it has grown and grown until it is a bigger thing than the love of youth ever dreamed of.
gpt
That _is_ nice, she murmured happily.
human
That would be a nice picture to paint. They were silent for a time, perhaps both seeing pictures of their own.
gpt
It's growing late, said Ernestine, a little drowsily,
human
And it was happy? he asked tenderly.
gpt
Just as happy as you wanted it to be?
human
So happy that I hate to see it go. It was--just right.
gpt
Weren't any of the others happy, dear?
human
None of the others were perfect. Of course, last year was our first one together, and
gpt
I know, dear, he hastened;
human
I know that wasn't a perfect day.
gpt
Before that, she went on, after a minute of looking a long way into the fire,
human
Like men,
gpt
Yes, they have to be petted and fussed over, just like men. Now, Karl, are you listening or are you not?
human
Then, this afternoon, Georgia came out and we went for a row on the lagoon in Jackson Park. Did you happen to look out and see how beautiful it was this afternoon, Karl? I wish you would do that once in a while. Germs and cells and things aren't so very aesthetic, you know, and I don't like to have you miss things. I was thinking about you as we passed the university. It seemed such a big, wonderful place, and I love to think of what it is your work really means. I _am_ so proud of you, Karl!
gpt
And was it nice down there?