human
You surely expected me, he said;
gpt
I suppose I must, sir, she said, dimpling and blushing, with a saucy toss of her head.
human
I can't very well stop my ears, seeing that you have imprisoned both hands. Oh, don't! don't! I haven't pledged myself yet, she stammered, as he, raising her hands, drew them around his neck, folded her in his arms, and kissed her brow. Then, still holding her closely in one arm, with the other he turned her face to meet his, murmuring,
gpt
Not just your forehead, sweetness--O sweetheart! darling! wife! as his lips closed over hers in a clinging kiss.
human
It is thus I take my pledge. You are mine, mine, you bewildering, tormenting Betty.
gpt
No! no! she protested stammeringly, as she struggled to free herself.
human
Oh, you're too--too--you hold me so close! You lose count of time and season, sir, she added presently with an attempt at playfulness, and trying to assume an ease and nonchalance she was far from feeling.
gpt
This is November, remember--solemn, quiet Thanksgiving time. The summer of fulfillment hasn't come yet.
human
Yes, it has, boldly asserted her lover.
gpt
Winter is past, and summer is here--glorious, satisfying harvest time--and--and--it is thus I garner in my wealth, he murmured with tender rapture, gathering her still closer, and kissing the sweet eyes and throat and mouth.
human
No more half-way measures between us now! No more tormenting reserve! You trust me, sweetheart? You give yourself to me, do you not?
gpt
I don't seem to have much liberty of choice, she replied with a resumption of her old sauciness, as she again freed herself from his embrace.
human
As you have already stolen my heart, I may as well trust you with the rest--and I do, I do, she added solemnly.
gpt
My welfare, my happiness, my life itself, I commit to your keeping, placing both hands in his.
human
I give all unreservedly. You are worthy the trust.
gpt
No, she said presently, in answer to the inevitable question as to when she had first begun to love him;
human
I shan't tell you that. You're too conceited and masterful as it is.
gpt
But you have promised to tell me everything,
human
No, some things are better left unsaid, and if I were to tell you that, I'd never be able to get the upper hand with you again.
gpt
But you know you always did obey me, he answered, smiling reminiscently,
human
I don't know about that, sir. If that is the rule, I mean to be the exception that proves it; for I fully intend that you shall be the submissive one in our future relationship.
gpt
In that case, fair lady mine, the sooner you marry me, the better; for even with so competent a ruler as yourself, it will take long and close application on my part to learn the role of submissive husband. You see, my position of schoolmaster has weakened my natural talent for meekness and submission, so that at present these qualities are far from being in perfect condition.
human
You needn't tell me that, rejoined Betsy, with a demure smile and nodding her head sagely.
gpt
Cupid hasn't so blindfolded me but that I can still see a wee bit out of the corner of my eye--well enough, at least, to perceive that my lover has several imperfections in addition to a lack of meekness.
human
That, my dear, isn't the fault of Cupid's bandages, but it is due to your always having held me at a distance, he answered placidly, drawing her nearer to him.
gpt
Seen at close range, these little peculiarities of mine, which you have labeled defects, will turn out to be budding virtues of the finest quality.
human
Ah, then, most perfect and approved good master, you must give me back my pledge. I could stand a few faults and minor vices in my future lord; but such an array of excellencies appals me. I wed you not, Sir Paragon,
gpt
Abner exclaimed with mock fervor.
human
No, no, sweet mistress mine, rather than resign this dimpled hand of thine, I'll begin at once to uproot all my promising little sprouts of virtue, and plant in their stead an assortment of fine, robust misdemeanors, for which, in truth, the soil is well adapted.
gpt
Very well, then, she said with an air of resignation,
human
I foresee that I shall have to grow a few additional faults myself, to compete with you.
gpt
And I don't think, my dearest, that you'll have much difficulty in doing so, was his audacious rejoinder, as he pinched her cheek.
human
Natural aptitude counts for a great deal, you know.
gpt
Methinks, my lord, too much happiness hath weakened thy brain; what nonsense thou dost chatter,
human
Oh, anybody can talk sense, but it takes a heap o' sense to talk nonsense sensibly, he said suavely, with a fine air of self-complacency.
gpt
Until to-day I did not know I had it in me to be so brilliant a conversationalist. Happiness is bringing out all my latent abilities. Ah, Betty, sweetest, dearest, most bewitching of girls, he added, fervently,
human
Of what are you thinking? Your brown eyes are filled with something that is almost sadness. Have you any regrets, any unfilled wish? I haven't--except that November might have come sooner.
gpt
Yes, I have a regret, said Betty, laying her hand upon his shoulder and looking wistfully at him.
human
I give you everything--my present, my future, and my past; but you--I know you love me now, but I am not the one you loved first. That is what makes me sad. I want your past as well as your present and future. Perhaps you think I didn't see. You supposed, when you were so miserable after Abby went away, that I didn't understand! Many and many a night have I lain awake, sorrowing over your sorrow and my inability to help you.
gpt
Listen to me, Betty dear. My feeling for your cousin, though pure and tender, was as nothing compared to what I have for you. Even when I was most under the spell of her beauty and sweetness, I thought of you as one who might well stir the pulse and thrill the heart of any man not made armor-proof by love for another.
human
But you did love Cousin Abby?
gpt
Yes, I did, in a dreamy, poetical way. Or, rather, I was in love with love and romance, and all that, and she seemed the embodiment of beauty and poetry. But I never touched even the outer edges of her susceptibilities, and it was this complete unresponsiveness that healed my wound, even before I was aware. A man, warm-blooded, ardent, as I am, must have an answering love to keep his own alive. There was nothing in that first romantic feeling that need give you a pang of regret. It was a mere boyish fancy; this, dear, is the love of my manhood. And in fact, my darling, I don't believe there is so much as a kiss to choose between your love for me and mine for you. If there is, he added humorously,
human
and he kissed her fondly.
gpt
And now, my dear girl, he went on, speaking soberly, but with a glad light in his eyes,
human
I have great news for you; but first, let me ask, by what name do you propose to be known when we are married?
gpt
Well, exclaimed the girl in some bewilderment,
human
I said awhile ago that happiness had addled your brains; but I really did not suspect the trouble to be so serious as this. By what name, pray, should I be known but that of Mistress Betsy Dudley--ugly though it be? Oh, I see! she cried, thinking she understood his meaning.
gpt
You don't like the name Betsy. Neither do I. It's perfectly horrid; and it is my standing grievance against my parents that they saddled upon their innocent babe so uncouth a prenomen. If father did wish to honor his mother by endowing his first-born with the name, why could he not have softened it into Betty, or Bettina, or Bessie, or, better still, have christened me Elizabeth, instead of insisting, as he always does, that I shall be called Betsy? I'll tell you what, she added archly,
human
Elizabeth what?
gpt
Upon my word, I begin to think you really are daft! Why, Elizabeth Dudley, of course, she said, flushing and looking shy and embarrassed;
human
Would not the name Elizabeth or Betty or Betsy Logan suit you better?