human
You can't come in,
gpt
All right,
human
Say, you can, if you won't tell anybody about it,
gpt
I am afraid I cannot stop now, thank you,
human
You ain't mad, are you?
gpt
They didn't tell me to keep folks out, Eddy explained,
human
It must be, said Anderson. He strove to move on, but could not break free from the boy's little, clinging hand.
gpt
Just come up the steps and peek in,
human
Ain't it handsome?
gpt
Very,
human
Say, said Eddy,
gpt
I never was married,
human
You weren't? said Eddy, staring at him.
gpt
Why, I thought you were a widow man.
human
No,
gpt
Well, why were you never married?
human
Oh, for a good many reasons which I have never formulated sufficiently to give,
gpt
I hate big words, said Eddy,
human
So it is, said Anderson, with a kindly look at him.
gpt
Well, all I meant was I couldn't give my reasons without thinking it over.
human
Perhaps you'll tell me when you get them thought over,
gpt
Perhaps.
human
You didn't stay not married because you couldn't get a girl to marry you, anyhow, I know that, said he,
gpt
Thank you,
human
You are going to the wedding, aren't you?
gpt
No, I think not.
human
Why not?
gpt
I am very busy.
human
Why, you don't keep your store open Wednesday evening?
gpt
I have letters to write,
human
Oh, shucks! let the letters go! cried the boy.
gpt
There's going to be stacks of fun, and lots of things to eat. There's chicken salad and lobster, and sandwiches, and ice-cream and cake, and coffee and cake, and-- The boy hesitated; then he spoke again in a whisper of triumph that had its meaning of pathos:
human
They are all paid for. I know, for I heard papa tell Major Arms. The carriages are paid for, too, and the florist is going to be paid.
gpt
That's good,
human
Yes, sir, so the things are sure to be there. They won't back out at the last minute, as they do sometimes. Awful mean, too. Say, you'd better come. Your mother can come, too. She likes ice-cream, don't she?
gpt
Well, she'll be sure to get all she can eat, said Eddy.
human
Tell her to come. I like your mother. He clung closely to the man's arm and walked along the street with him, forgetting his post as guardian of the church.
gpt
You'll come, won't you?
human
No. I shall be too busy, my son,
gpt
Say, he asked Charlotte,
human
I want to know if Mr. Anderson and his mother were asked to the wedding.
gpt
Oh, Eddy, dear, she cried,
human
I can't stop now; indeed I can't. I don't know who was invited and who not.
gpt
But, Charlotte, Eddy persisted,
human
I want to know particularly. Please tell me, honey.
gpt
Who did you say, dear? she asked.
human
Hurry! I can't stop.
gpt
Mr. Anderson, repeated Eddy.
human
Mr. Anderson and his mother.
gpt
Mr. Anderson and his mother?
human
Mr. Anderson,
gpt
I don't know who you mean, Eddy, dear,
human
Why, yes, you do, Charlotte, Mr. Anderson and his mother.
gpt
What is it? asked Anna Carroll.
human
Eddy, you must not stop us for anything. We are too busy.
gpt
You might just tell me if they are asked to the wedding, said Eddy, in an aggrieved tone.
human
That won't take a minute. Mr. Anderson. He keeps store.
gpt
Gracious! cried Anna Carroll.
human
The child means the grocer! No, dear, he isn't asked.
gpt
Why, I never thought! said Charlotte.
human
No, dear, he isn't asked.
gpt
Why not?
human
We couldn't ask everybody, honey, replied Anna.
gpt
Now you must not hinder us another minute.
human
He isn't everybody, he said.
gpt
He's the nicest man in this town. Why didn't you ask him? Didn't you think he was nice enough, I'd like to know?
human
Of course he is nice, dear, said Charlotte;
gpt
Why didn't you ask him, then? demanded Eddy.
human
I call it mean.
gpt
Eddy, she said, sternly,
human
I don't see why you won't ask him because he's a grocer, Eddy called, indignantly, after her.
gpt
He's the nicest man here, and he always lets us have things, whether we pay him or not. I have heard you say so. I think you are awful mean to take his groceries, and eat 'em, and use them for Ina's wedding, and then not ask him, just because he is a grocer.