human
I don't know as I ought to have come here last night, she said,
gpt
Where else would you have gone?
human
I hope Mr. Anderson didn't think I--I--ought not to,
gpt
My precious child! she whispered.
human
I could not help seeing last night, and this was just the place for you to come, for this is your home, or is going to be; isn't it, dear?
gpt
Oh, she sobbed,
human
I don't want him to think that I--
gpt
Hush, dear! He will think nothing he ought not to think, said Mrs. Anderson, who did not, in reality, know in the least what the girl was troubled about, but rather thought it possible that she might fear lest her son was not in earnest in his attentions, on her father's account. She did not imagine Charlotte's faith and pride in her father.
human
My son cares a great deal for you, dear child, or he would never have done as he did last night, she said,
gpt
My son will make a very good husband, Mrs. Anderson said, with a slight inflection of pride.
human
He will make a good husband, just as his father did.
gpt
He is the best man I ever saw, except papa, cried Charlotte then, with a great gulp of blissful confession, and the two women wept in each other's arms.
human
I will try and make him a good wife,
gpt
Of course you will, you precious child.
human
But I can't leave papa all alone, she said,
gpt
Of course my son could not leave me,
human
I could not leave papa all alone.
gpt
Well, we won't worry about that now, dear, Mrs. Anderson replied, although her forehead was slightly knitted.
human
Your mother and aunt will be back; some way will be opened. We will not worry about that now.
gpt
You don't think papa is very badly hurt?
human
Why, of course not, dear. Didn't you hear what Randolph said? He probably was stunned. It is so easy to get stunned from a fall on the ice. My husband got a bad fall once, one icy Sunday as we were coming home from the church. They had to carry him into Mr. John Bemis's house, and he did not come to for several hours. I thought he was killed. I never was so frightened except once when Randolph had the croup. But he got all over it. His head was a little sore, but that was all. I presume it was black and blue under his hair. Randolph's father had beautiful thick hair just like his. I dare say he was not hurt so badly, because of that. Your father has thick hair, hasn't he?
gpt
Yes.
human
Well, I dare say he struck on his head, just as my husband did, and was stunned. I dare say that was just what happened. Of course he did not break any bones, or he would not be coming home on the noon train. I don't believe they would let him out from the hospital so soon as that, even if he had only broken his arm.
gpt
Oh, do you think they carried him to a hospital?
human
They took him somewhere where he was taken care of, or he would not be coming home on the noon train, said Mrs. Anderson.
gpt
It is almost time for you to get up, and I want you to drink another cup of coffee. You came here without any hat, didn't you, poor child?
human
Yes.
gpt
Well, I haven't got any hat, and you can't wear one of my bonnets, but I have a pretty white head-tie that you can wear; and nobody will see you in the closed carriage, anyway.
human
I am making so much trouble,
gpt
You precious child! said Mrs. Anderson;
human
It was dreadful, Charlotte said, with a shudder.
gpt
I suppose there was nothing at all to be afraid of, but I imagined all kinds of things.
human
The things people imagine are more to be afraid of than the things they see, sometimes, Mrs. Anderson said, wisely.
gpt
Now, I think perhaps you had better get up, dear, and you must drink another cup of coffee. I think there will be just about time enough for you to drink it and get dressed before the carriage comes.