human
The Rhine sounds to-night, he said with a smile,
gpt
If she was? said Vendale, gradually changing his attitude to a sitting one.
human
If she was? Why do you say 'if'?
gpt
What do I know? replied the other negligently, throwing up his hands and letting them fall as they would.
human
What would you have? I am so obscurely born, that how can I say? I was very young, and all the rest of the family were men and women, and my so-called parents were old. Anything is possible of a case like that.
gpt
Did you ever doubt--
human
I told you once, I doubt the marriage of those two, he replied, throwing up his hands again, as if he were throwing the unprofitable subject away.
gpt
But here I am in Creation. _I_ come of no fine family. What does it matter?
human
At least you are Swiss,
gpt
How do I know? he retorted abruptly, and stopping to look back over his shoulder.
human
I say to you, at least you are English. How do you know?
gpt
By what I have been told from infancy.
human
Ah! I know of myself that way.
gpt
And, added Vendale, pursuing the thought that he could not drive back,
human
I also. I know of myself that way--if that way satisfies.
gpt
Does it not satisfy you?
human
It must. There is nothing like 'it must' in this little world. It must. Two short words those, but stronger than long proof or reasoning.
gpt
You and poor Wilding were born in the same year. You were nearly of an age,
human
Yes. Very nearly.