human
I reckon Betsy holds herse'f above common fo'ks, now she's visitin' 'mong the big bugs,
gpt
No, ma, Susan ventured,
human
Betsy is not one to change. She loves us as well as ever, I feel sure.
gpt
Well, ef she ain't too stuck up to notice us, her ma's too proud to let her, retorted Mrs. Rogers.
human
I allus said thet in spite uv Jane's meechin' ways, she felt herse'f above us. We ain't got blue blood in our veins. We ain't kin to the Temples an' Blairs an' Goodloes, and the rest uv them ristahcrats.
gpt
Mrs. Gilcrest always treats me well when I go there, answered Susan,
human
she continued, her cheeks flushing and her eyes shining,
gpt
Then, why don't she come to see us lak she usetah?
human
I wonder if Susan knows!
gpt
Thah's her pap, too, Mrs. Rogers went on,
human
Hiram ain't hisse'f jes' now, interposed Mason;
gpt
Religion! sich carryin'-on ain't no religion, exclaimed Mrs. Rogers.
human
Well, well, he's a good man et bottom, replied her husband.
gpt
We hev lived neighbors ovah twenty year, an' he's allus been ready to do us a good turn, in sickness, in health an' in trouble. As fur his wife, I wondah, Cynthy Ann, thet you kin find it in yer heart to say aught ag'in her. Hev you furgot thet wintah the twins wuz borned, an' I wuz crippled up with rheumatiz, an' the niggahs down with the measles, how she sent ole Dilsey (though Jane hed a young baby herse'f, an' could ill spar' the niggah) to wait on us? Ez fur Betsy, with a sly look at Abner,
human
I agree with Cissy; she's the smartest, purtiest gal in these parts, an' good an' true ez she is purty.
gpt
It gets dark so early now, she said,
human
Let's walk part way with Betsy, cried Lucindy.
gpt
Come, Lucy, an' you too, Cissy. Maybe we'll meet ma comin' home.
human
Instead of taking the short cut through the fields, let's go around by the woods, dearest,
gpt
Very well, we have plenty of time, she agreed happily.
human
There's no telling when we may have another such chance, and I have much to say to you. You may walk as far as the upper woods with me, if you are good.
gpt
No farther than that?
human
Only to the bars this time, I think, dear,
gpt
Oh, these long, wretched weeks when I have so hungered for a sight of your face and the sound of your voice! he presently exclaimed.
human
And now when I am at last alone with you, you appoint boundaries and limits, and place restrictions upon my walk with you! and he grasped her hand in a tighter clasp and looked at her somewhat sternly.
gpt
Oh, my darling, he broke off, as she turned a wistful, tearful gaze upon him,
human
and he gathered her into his arms and kissed her tenderly.
gpt
It is only because I love you so passionately, my life, my sweetest one. Won't you speak to me, dearest?
human
But the oracle, when he uttered that bit of questionable wisdom, wasn't, I dare say, walking with his sweetheart after dreary weeks of separation, said Abner, squeezing her hand.
gpt
If he had, he would have preferred silvery speech to golden silence--or, rather, the utterances of his beloved one would have been to him as doubly refined gold; and I'm perfectly certain that his sweetheart could not have compared with my piquant, peerless Betty. Besides, you declared awhile ago that you had much to say to me.
human
So I had, Sir Flatterer, the girl answered with a radiant smile, her momentary sadness completely banished by his fond words,
gpt
she continued with an arch glance.
human
It is surely a mighty power indeed that makes a chatterbox like me to revel in silence.
gpt
How I love this dear old forest! was Abner's exclamation presently.
human
Every tree, every stick and stone, every foot of ground, seems sacred. Do you not love it all, my darling?
gpt
I do indeed, she acknowledged.
human
In fact, she added laughingly,
gpt
I think, by rights, this woods belongs exclusively to us and our love, and I consider any one else guilty of sacrilegious effrontery in even walking through its sacred precincts. But you don't appear in especially radiant spirits, my friend, even though we are together in our hallowed woods,
human
How can I be in radiant humor, Betty? he retorted sadly.
gpt
This restraint and concealment are becoming unendurable to me. We are nearly to the bars now where you say I must turn back, and I must first have some serious words with you. For three months and more, I have obeyed your behest and have kept aloof from your house; but patience ceases to be a virtue. I am no nearer winning your father to a more cordial frame of mind than I was at first. On the contrary, in the few times I have encountered him of late, he has appeared to be getting colder and more formal, and I really believe this is due in a great measure to his suspecting that there is a secret understanding between you and me. He is a straightforward man and likes straightforward courses. Moreover, how can I ever win his consent to our marriage unless I ask him? That's only common sense; and furthermore, anything underhanded or clandestine is as obnoxious to me as to him.
human
Oh, she begged with a frightened look,
gpt
How hard, he interrupted gloomily,
human
he went on firmly,
gpt
I will wait no longer. I will see your father to-morrow. Patience, forsooth! he ejaculated in answer to her further pleading,
human
Yes, he was; but that is of no moment, Betty answered frankly.
gpt
He is dad's friend, not mine. I treat him courteously, of course; but that----
human
Your father may consider himself the magnet that draws Drane to Oaklands, sneered Abner;
gpt
And he who reads had better run! retorted Betsy, now thoroughly nettled,
human
No, dear, Abner replied, undaunted by her anger.
gpt
I do not mean that. You must not catch up my words in that way. I know the truth and steadfastness of your nature too well to believe that you encourage or coquette with Drane or any other man. My meaning is this: your father likes Drane and thinks so highly of his brilliant prospects that the mere fact that he is a possible suitor for your hand will dispose your father to think with the less favor of my pretensions. And indeed, Betty dear, though I do not for a moment think you encourage the fellow, still what I have said of the situation is true in regard to his feelings and intentions; he wears his heart upon his sleeve.
human
That he does not! returned Betty with spirit;