human
You'll get to like it yet,
gpt
Bull! observed Bill.
human
I'm a leopard. I can't change 'em.
gpt
You can have 'em changed for you all right. Many a good leopard has been skinned, Bill.
human
What are you beefing about? You're responsible for getting me in on this more than anybody else.
gpt
Oh, go ahead; lay off on me. It's a grand joke because you see I'm down. Where do I come in?
human
Where does anybody's valet come in?
gpt
You said it. That's just the point. You're copping all the cream. I'm a servant, that's all. It isn't neighborly, Bill. Gosh hang it, it isn't democracy! Do you call it a square deal, sneaking her off to a lunch?
human
That was business, Pete. We had to look at stationery. Beside, don't I give you my evenings?
gpt
Is it right that I eat in the servants' dining-room? Is it right that I sleep in the servants' quarters? Me--your guest! Is that a way to treat a guy who passed your college exams for you? And _she_ thinks I'm a servant, too. I'll leave it to you if it's right.
human
But Aunt Caroline puts you in a class by yourself, observed Bill.
gpt
Aunt Caroline doesn't misjudge you, Pete, even if you do claim to be a valet.
human
But _she_ treats me as if I was somebody to take orders from her, he grumbled on.
gpt
She's losing her respect for me.
human
Oh, forget Miss Norcross.
gpt
What? Forget Gray Eyes? Forget little Nell? Why don't you try it yourself, Bill?
human
I don't have to. She's my secretary,
gpt
She's your dancing-teacher, you mean. I've seen you at it; the two of you. Getting ready for the party! Bill Marshall, you're losing your character and your self-respect.
human
It isn't as if you needed to learn to dance, added Pete, as he kicked a book off the table.
gpt
You can dance rings around her, if you want to. But you're deceitful, Bill. She's got you one-twoing and three-fouring all over the library, and you making believe it's all new stuff. It's a gol darned shame, and I'm going to tell her so.
human
You're going to mind your own business or get busted, predicted Bill.
gpt
It doesn't make any difference what I used to know about dancing; I need practice. Besides, you can always go and talk theology to Aunt Caroline. She's never busy.
human
I'm laying off it--when she'll let me, he said miserably.
gpt
She's getting interested in it, Bill. Yesterday I had to go and bone up some more in the encyclopedia; I was all run out of stuff.
human
All right, son; only don't accuse me.