human
Geoffrey Alison, exclaimed Hubert with far more conviction than about Kenneth Boyd.
gpt
He really _is_ the man! Amusing, clever, full of energy, and too young to be really busy.
human
Why, how old is he? she enquired.
gpt
I want some one, you know, who is cleverer than me and can tell me things at galleries and places.
human
Well, I think he could tell you things, he must be twenty-nine by now. Besides, I was able once to do him a good turn, he is a sort of protégé; so he'd be only too glad to take you about and as you call it, tell you things at galleries and places. He's pretty good on art.
gpt
Oh, thank you! she said, girlishly for these days when she had begun duly to expand as wished.
human
If he'd think he was doing it as a great favour, just to pay you back, I'd rather look at pictures and things by myself and puzzle out their meaning. It's only I've begun so late. She paused for a moment, and then without enthusiasm, almost sulkily;
gpt
What did you do for him?
human
Why, it wasn't really very much. It was just after my first book came out, when I was twenty-six or so and he was at the Varsity or somewhere. I suppose he read a notice or heard the book was selling or something. Anyhow, he wrote me a most charming letter, the first I ever had from any stranger, congratulating me on my success and asking, if you please, how I had managed it as he heard I was young and he wanted to become an author too! I answered all the usual stuff about hard work and so on, which I see now he must have thought astounding twaddle if he really was at Oxford, and told him when he came to Town I'd like to meet him and perhaps could give him a few introductions. As a matter of fact, he went on after brief reflection,
gpt
I never did the last because I don't believe in it; but he came round at nights and talked to me and always said I had encouraged him a lot just when a little bucking-up was needed.
human
And did he?
gpt
Did he what, dear?
human
Why, did he become an author?
gpt
Oh no, he said, vaguely annoyed, now, that he had not guessed it.
human
Rather not! He's an artist now. Not terribly successful, you know, but getting along. I don't think you would care much for his pictures, though.