human
I THINK your mother is perfectly lovely, declared Marjorie, the moment the door of the Randolph's apartment had closed behind them.
gpt
Is she always so kind to strangers?
human
Mother's a brick, said Beverly, heartily.
gpt
She's kind to everybody, and always doing things for people. She's a good sport, too. I really believe, she is looking forward to the game to-morrow almost as much as I am. It's because she's so unselfish; she never stops to think of herself so long as other people are having a good time.
human
My aunt is like that, said Marjorie, with shining eyes.
gpt
She is a great invalid, and suffers very much most of the time, but she never complains, and is always interested in everything we do. Is your uncle a surgeon?
human
Yes, said Beverly, rather surprised by the abruptness of the question;
gpt
Oh, it isn't that, said Marjorie, blushing;
human
It is for me! she cried joyfully, glancing at the postmark.
gpt
It's from Undine; the first one I've had from her.
human
Undine, repeated Beverly, his eyes beginning to twinkle;
gpt
I had no idea you counted water sprites among your acquaintances.
human
She isn't a water sprite, laughed Marjorie.
gpt
She's just a girl like anybody else. We call her Undine because nobody knows what her real name is. It's a very strange story indeed. She was found under some ruins in the streets of San Francisco right after the earthquake, and we think a stone or something must have fallen on her head, for she was unconscious for a long time, and now she can't remember anything that happened before the earthquake, not even her own name. She isn't crazy, or anything like that, but she has simply forgotten everything. Did you ever hear of a case like that before?
human
I think I have read of such cases, but I imagine they are rather rare. It is very interesting, but if you don't mind, Miss Marjorie, please don't mention it to my mother. Any mention of the San Francisco earthquake is very painful to her. My little sister was killed there.
gpt
No, indeed I won't, promised Marjorie,
human
I don't mind in the least, said Beverly,
gpt
Don't tell me any more, she said, gently;
human
It was, said Beverly, sadly.
gpt
Part of the wall of the hotel where they were staying fell in, and they were both instantly killed. We feared for a time that my mother would never recover from the shock.
human
And was the maid killed, too?
gpt
We never knew; you see, she was a stranger to us. My uncle advertised in all the California papers, in the hope of finding her, and perhaps learn more particulars, but no answer ever came. She was probably killed, poor thing.
human
Your mother spoke of her little girl this afternoon, said Marjorie;
gpt
Yes, she would have been fifteen this January. It is rather odd, but when I saw you that first morning in the park you somehow reminded me of Babs. She was such a jolly little girl. She was four years younger than I, but there were only we two, and we were always chums.
human
I'm so sorry,