human
Friend, in your country were the houses of your field-labourers anything like that?
gpt
Well, at any rate the houses of our rich men were not; they were mere blots upon the face of the land.
human
I find that hard to understand, she said.
gpt
I can see why the workmen, who were so oppressed, should not have been able to live in beautiful houses; for it takes time and leisure, and minds not over-burdened with care, to make beautiful dwellings; and I quite understand that these poor people were not allowed to live in such a way as to have these (to us) necessary good things. But why the rich men, who had the time and the leisure and the materials for building, as it would be in this case, should not have housed themselves well, I do not understand as yet. I know what you are meaning to say to me, she said, looking me full in the eyes and blushing,
human
(pointing to the spire);
gpt
Vulgar, said I.
human
We used to say, said I,
gpt
Yes, friend, I see what you mean. We have sometimes--those of us who look into these things--talked this very matter over; because, to say the truth, we have plenty of record of the so-called arts of the time before Equality of Life; and there are not wanting people who say that the state of that society was not the cause of all that ugliness; that they were ugly in their life because they liked to be, and could have had beautiful things about them if they had chosen; just as a man or body of men now may, if they please, make things more or less beautiful--Stop! I know what you are going to say.
human
Do you?
gpt
Yes, she said;
human
Yes, yes,