human
I won't see any one, if you like, Duke--I'm sure it's no pleasure to make conversation without ideas. Do let me ring for hot tea--you look so tired. Sit down in this chair--and the cushion--there!
gpt
No tea, my dear. I can only wait for a few minutes; my carriage is below. Tired? Yes, I am very tired; worried, also.
human
Nothing wrong, I hope,
gpt
Jim, my dear--poor Jim! Have you heard about his health lately?
human
Oh yes! Last week I received a few lines, and he said that he felt ever so much better. His cough is almost gone.
gpt
Ah, said Pentland, sadly;
human
What is it? she demanded irritably.
gpt
Is he--is he?
human
Worse--yes, much worse, said the Duke, rubbing his forehead and producing a letter.
gpt
This is from Demetrius. We may expect--oh, my poor son!
human
I don't trust these doctors, remarked Lady Jim, skimming the letter with a feeling that Demetrius was really too imaginative.
gpt
They always shout wolf, when the animal is miles away. Don't worry.
human
But you see, Demetrius says that poor Jim may go off at any moment--and Demetrius is a clever man.
gpt
He may be mistaken. I have heard of surprising recoveries.
human
Not Jim. I had a conviction that I should never see him again when we parted in this very room.
gpt
It's absurd! argued Leah, artfully.
human
Jim was quite well till he caught that stupid cold at Firmingham. Why should he go off suddenly?
gpt
What they call galloping consumption is----
human
I can't believe it. Nothing would surprise me more than to hear of Jim's death