human
That man's going with you!
gpt
Mr. O'Bannon? Yes, he is. Eleanor thought a second.
human
I'll put him off, Lydia. I'll tell him not to come.
gpt
You'll do nothing of the kind. It's perfect. I don't know what got into me the other day, Eleanor. You must have despised me for such pitiful cowardice.
human
No, my dear, said Eleanor slowly, but obviously relieved that the question had come up again.
gpt
But I did feel that you weren't going to work the best way to get the poison of the whole thing out of your soul.
human
Oh, don't worry about that! I shall get rid of the poison.
gpt
How?
human
I shall make him suffer. I shall revenge myself, and then forget he exists. You can tell him so if you want.
gpt
I don't have many opportunities any more. I seldom see him.
human
Ah, you've found him out!
gpt
On the contrary, the longer I know him the more highly I think of him. I don't see him because he's busy. He has been having a difficult time--in business. He decided to get out of politics and go into straight law. New York is like a ferocious monster to a man beginning any profession. Dan--but it doesn't matter. His troubles are over now.
human
Are they indeed?
gpt
Yes, he's had a wonderful offer of a partnership from an older man who----Oh, Lydia, you ought to try to see that your point of view about him is a prejudiced--a natural one, but still----
human
Is it a definite offer, Eleanor?
gpt
Yes, absolutely, though the papers are not to be signed for a day or so.
human
A day or so,
gpt
It isn't that I care what you think of him or he of you. I'm past that with my friends, and, as I say, I don't see nearly as much of him as I used to; but----
human
Of course you don't, answered Lydia.
gpt
He's ashamed--or, no, it's more that he can't bear to see himself in contrast with your perfect integrity, Eleanor. Did you know that he came to prison to see me, to gloat over me? Sent in for me to come to him in my prison clothes----
human
He didn't come to gloat over you.
gpt
What did he come for then?
human
Because you know very well, Lydia, the man's in love with you.
gpt
Never say such a thing as that again! she said.
human
You don't understand, but it degrades me, it pollutes me! Love me! That man! I'd kill him if I thought he dared!
gpt
Well, she said,
human
Of course you're mistaken! But you must have had some reason for saying such a thing. You're not the kind of person, Eleanor, who goes about having disgusting suspicions like that without a reason.
gpt
Do you really want me to give you a reason or are you only waiting to tear me to pieces, whatever I say?
human
I want your reason,
gpt
I saw all through your trial that Dan was not like himself, that he was struggling with something stronger than he. He is a man who has always had terrible weaknesses, temptations----
human
He drinks,
gpt
No --Eleanor was very firm about it--
human
More than once, Eleanor.
gpt
Only once, in a time of emotional strain. What was the emotion? You had just been sentenced. It came to me suddenly that if he were in love with you--it would explain everything.
human
If he hated me--that would explain it too.
gpt
The two emotions are pretty close, Lydia.
human
Close? Lydia exclaimed violently.
gpt
It shows that you have never felt either.
human
Have you?
gpt
Yes, I've felt hate. It's poisoned and withered me for over two years now, and I don't mean to bear it any more. I mean to get rid of it this way--to hurt that man enough to satisfy myself.
human
You'll never get rid of it that way. Don't do it, Lydia, whatever you mean to do.
gpt
You're pleading for that man, Nell. Don't! It's ignominious.
human
I'm pleading for you, my dear.
gpt
Don't! It's impertinent.