human
Poor little frightened thing! he said softly.
gpt
And all for a pittance which, in her sort of profession, must necessarily be small!
human
Yes, and she works like a black for it, too, gave back Maud Duggan heatedly.
gpt
Slogs away all the day long, running errands for--_her_--sewing, darning, mending, writing interminable letters which Paula tears up afterward and decides not to send. And gets not a crumb of comfort for her pains. Paula is terribly hard upon her, Mr. Deland. I wonder the girl stands it; only--there's an attraction.
human
And you women are endurance personified--in those circumstances! he responded with a little significant laugh.
gpt
When your hearts are involved, your common sense vanishes to make room for it. I've seen it a thousand times before.... Really, Miss Duggan, you have been an indefatigable guide. I don't believe there's a nook or cranny of this place which I haven't seen, is there?
human
Only the cellars--or, properly speaking, the dungeons. And they're of no interest to anybody. Father keeps the wines down there, of course, and anything that does not require too much storage. But, excepting for the cellar, the place is never entered from one year's end to another. Not a servant would go down into them for double wages. The peasant-girl is supposed to stay there when she is not out on her nightly prowl for the man who abducted her!
gpt
Indeed? That's interesting. I suppose I couldn't go down? Dungeons are a perfect passion with me, for I've an insatiable curiosity, and always want to go poking my nose where no one else does. Sort of brand of my profession, I suppose. Do you think you could find energy enough to take me down?
human
Certainly.