human
Tell you, Lulu, said Dwight.
gpt
Here are three of us. Our interests are the same in this thing--only Ninian is our relative and he's nothing to you now. Is he?
human
Why, no,
gpt
Very well. Let's have a vote. Your snap judgment is to tell this disgraceful fact broadcast. Mine is, least said, soonest mended. What do you say, Ina--considering Di and all?
human
Oh, goodness, said Ina,
gpt
My poor, poor sister! Ina said. She struck together her little plump hands.
human
Oh, Dwight--when I think of it: What have I done--what have _we_ done that I should have a good, kind, loving husband--be so protected, so loved, when other women.... Darling! she sobbed, and drew near to Lulu.
gpt
You _know_ how sorry I am--we all are....
human
Then, she said,
gpt
What about _my_ pride? Dwight called to her, as across great distances.
human
Do you think I want everybody to know my brother did a thing like that?
gpt
You can't help that,
human
But I want you to help it. I want you to promise me that you won't shame us like this before all our friends.
gpt
You want me to promise what?
human
I want you--I ask you, Dwight said with an effort,
gpt
No! Lulu cried.
human
No. I won't do it! I won't do it! I won't do it!
gpt
Can't you understand anything? she asked.
human
I've lived here all my life--on your money. I've not been strong enough to work, they say--well, but I've been strong enough to be a hired girl in your house--and I've been glad to pay for my keep.... But there wasn't anything about it I liked. Nothing about being here that I liked.... Well, then I got a little something, same as other folks. I thought I was married and I went off on the train and he bought me things and I saw the different towns. And then it was all a mistake. I didn't have any of it. I came back here and went into your kitchen again--I don't know why I came back. I s'pose because I'm most thirty-four and new things ain't so easy any more--but what have I got or what'll I ever have? And now you want to put on to me having folks look at me and think he run off and left me, and having 'em all wonder.... I can't stand it. I can't stand it. I can't....
gpt
You'd rather they'd know he fooled you, when he had another wife?
human
Yes! Because he wanted me. How do I know--maybe he wanted me only just because he was lonesome, the way I was. I don't care why! And I won't have folks think he went and left me.
gpt
That, said Dwight,
human
That's the truth. Well, why can't they know the truth?
gpt
And bring disgrace on us all.
human
It's me--it's me----
gpt
It's all of us! Dwight boomed.
human
It's Di.
gpt
Why, it's chiefly on Di's account that I'm talking,
human
How would it hurt Di?
gpt
To have a thing like that in the family? Well, can't you see how it'd hurt her?
human
Would it, Ina? Would it hurt Di?
gpt
Why, it would shame her--embarrass her--make people wonder what kind of stock she came from--oh, Ina sobbed,
human
Hurt her prospects, of course, said Dwight.
gpt
Anybody could see that.
human
I s'pose it would,
gpt
When a family once gets talked about for any reason----
human
I'm talked about now!
gpt
But nothing that you could help. If he got tired of you, you couldn't help that.
human
No, Lulu said,
gpt
I couldn't help that. And I couldn't help his other wife, either.
human
Bigamy, said Dwight,
gpt
I've done no crime,
human
Bigamy, said Dwight,
gpt
Even Di,
human
Lulu, said Dwight,
gpt
I s'pose so,
human
You will?
gpt
I s'pose so.
human
Thank you, thank you, Lulu. This makes up for everything.
gpt
Di has a hard enough time as it is. Aloud she said:
human
I told Mr. Cornish, but he won't tell.
gpt
I'll see to that,
human
Goodness, Ina said,
gpt
You'll be happy to think you've done this for us, Lulu,
human
I s'pose so,
gpt
My sweet, self-sacrificing sister,
human
Oh stop that!
gpt
I can now, he said,
human
Don't you go around pitying me! I'll have you know I'm glad the whole thing happened!
gpt
Got up quite attractive,