human
To-day is not the first time I have seen you, Miss Patterson, Abner said presently;
gpt
I recognized you the instant I saw you in church this morning.
human
Indeed! she exclaimed, looking at him searchingly.
gpt
Are you not mistaken? I have no recollection of ever seeing you before; and I have a good memory for faces, too.
human
As to your having seen me, that's a different matter, he replied,
gpt
Ah, that Assembly ball! she exclaimed sadly.
human
That was the closing scene of my happy young girlhood. Trouble followed quickly upon trouble immediately after that night, until, within six weeks, I had lost everything that made life sweet. But, she asked with a quick change of manner,
gpt
On the contrary, Abner laughingly replied,
human
I was there as an uninvited guest. Not for me were the delights of minuet, cotillion and Roger de Coverly; for I had neither the costume nor the courage to penetrate into the ballroom. With several fellow-students, I had stolen from the college that night to witness the gay doings at the Capitol. As I stood in a doorway wishing I could exchange my sober college garb for that of a gentleman of fashion, you were pointed out to me as the belle of the ball; and memory has ever since treasured the radiant picture of the girl in a richly flowered brocade gown, who, with bright eyes glowing, powdered head held high, and with little feet that scarce touched the floor, led the dance with a handsome young soldier in officer's uniform.
gpt
Ah! those were happy days! she said sadly.
human
I wonder you recognized me to-day; I've had so much to change and age me.
gpt
Changed you certainly are, he replied;
human
But, she replied archly,
gpt
she added laughingly,
human
See! she added, offering him a drink from an old gourd kept in a cleft of the rock for the use of chance passers-by.
gpt
This water is almost ice-cold--and just look at this mint. Uncle Hiram declares it to be the finest flavored he ever tasted. He never comes here without carrying away some for his morning julep. I will take a handful to stow away in the lunch-basket; it will save him a trip here after service this afternoon.