human
It's a beautiful, kind plan, and exactly like you, but I couldn't think of accepting it.
gpt
My dearest girl, will you tell me why? You would be doing me all kinds of a favour.
human
No favour at all. Cynthia doesn't need us to help her take care of the house. We shall be perfectly comfortable here, and--my business is here.
gpt
Charlotte, I'm afraid you won't be perfectly comfortable. This room isn't really warm this morning, and it's not an extremely cold morning. Through midwinter we're likely to have very heavy weather, as you don't know, not having spent a winter here.
human
Have you? Isn't this your first winter North? You're just as much of a Southerner as I am. You don't a bit know about Northern winters. You just imagine they must be dreadful.
gpt
I've heard about the snowdrifts over the fences, the terrific winds, and the intense cold. The storms will beat upon this little old house, and I shall think about it away off in Germany--and be anxious. Please, Charlotte, don't be unreasonable. Why in the world shouldn't you do me a favour like this? Red wants it just as much as I do, particularly on the grandmother's account. Think how comfortable she would be in my living-room, and in my guest-room. And I should so love to have her there.
human
I suppose I'm an ungrateful person, but I truly don't want to do it, Len. Of course you know I wouldn't persist in a course that I thought would do Granny harm, but I don't see how this can. She stays in bed in the morning, as warm as toast, until I bring her down here, and I don't bring her until the room is thoroughly warm. I give her her breakfast here, and keep her perfectly comfortable all day, as she can tell you. At night I take her up to a nest as cosy as a kitten's, and she has her hot milk the last thing to send her off. Not a breath of discomfort touches her beloved head.
gpt
I can see it's of no use, admitted Mrs. Burns, disappointedly,
human
I promise you that I'll take proper care of both of us, and love you for a devoted friend. That ought to satisfy you. Do you know that as you sit there, with that furry hat on your head and your cheeks glowing, you're the prettiest thing north of Mason-and-Dixon's line?
gpt
I know you're a flatterer, as you always were. If I can rival you in that blue cotton--Charlotte, do you think you ought to wear cotton in December?
human
You wear gauze and low-cut gowns in the evening in January, don't you?--and would in Labrador, if you went out to dinner. What's the difference between silver tissue in the evening and blue cotton in the morning?
gpt
Considerable difference, as you very well know. But you're impossible to argue with this morning, and I must run back to my packing. Red won't hear of my taking more than a certain quite inadequate amount of luggage, and I have to plan pretty closely accordingly.
human
That's good for you. You don't know the first thing about curtailing your desires, and he means to teach you. Perhaps he won't limit you as to how much you bring home.
gpt
I hope not. We shall stop for a week in Paris before we sail, and I mean to bring you the loveliest evening frock you've had in a long time. It's no use forbidding me, for I shall do it just the same.
human
I'm not going to forbid you, laughed Charlotte Ruston, with her cheek against the furry hat.
gpt
I know when not to forbid people to do things I want them to do. Only make it blue, my blue, and have a touch of silver on it, and I'll wear it and think of you with adoration.
human
It's a bargain,