human
One day when I was wandering around--it was the day we had such a wonderful time----
gpt
When you learned to swim?
human
I think it was. Well, I just walked along a lane I had never found before, continued the prince--for she was still that noble character,
gpt
At first, of course, I thought it was a dog or something like that, but all of a sudden it sat up!
human
Oh!
gpt
Yes, it sat up and looked at me with eyes like coals of fire.
human
Nora! shouted Laddie.
gpt
I am all goose flesh, please tell us who had the eyes.
human
I'm trying to, said Nora, realizing the value of pauses.
gpt
I was so frightened I wanted to run, but before I could do so the creature showed how frightened she was----
human
She!
gpt
Yes, it was a poor, miserable little girl, all rags and eyes, and so sad looking! Really girls, my heart went out to her,
human
I managed to get her to tell me her name, said Nora next.
gpt
And it was Lucia.
human
Lucia, repeated a chorus in perfect time, pronouncing it
gpt
Luchia.
human
Yes, a poor, neglected, little Italian girl, who has to work on one of the big farms----
gpt
There! almost shouted Alma.
human
I knew when you saved your picnic lunch it was for something noble. It was for Lucia, wasn't it?
gpt
Yes, but after bringing her food for days she suddenly disappeared.
human
What happened to her?
gpt
How can I tell? sighed Nora.
human
I have done everything to find out. I have even had Cousin Ted drive me around the big farms hoping to get a glimpse of her, but I never saw any one who even looked like her. Then, I haven't told you the most pathetic part, she paused again.
gpt
The last day I went to fetch her a lovely piece of pie, you know I used to put food in a big tin box Vita gave me; well, there was all that I had left the day before. Of course, I was awfully disappointed and I felt so--sorry I had not told you girls----
human
If you had, Nora, said Miss Beckwith, gently,
gpt
I know that, Becky, and I am telling this now partly to----
human
Ease your conscience,
gpt
Yes; I don't want any more secrets. They are more worry than they can possibly be worth,
human
You were telling us about the box,
gpt
Oh, yes; but I must hurry, I have to go home very soon. It is time the folks were back.
human
Tell us the rest and we won't interrupt once,
gpt
I found a little paper bouquet in the box, Nora continued.
human
And a scribbled bit of paper.
gpt
What was on it?
human
Just a few words, 'Goodbye, I love you.'
gpt
The poor, little thing, commiserated Alma.
human
And could you find no way to tell who she was or where she lived?
gpt
I didn't dare ask anyone outright, answered Nora,
human
Nick?
gpt
Yes; she would only say he was a bad man, and I know she feared him for she would tremble so when she mentioned his name.
human
But when I found she was gone--I knew what a mistake I had made in not telling anyone about it. Even if she was afraid, I could surely have trusted--Alma,