human
Will you allow me to open the window for you? Starting back,
gpt
Miss Galbraith!
human
Al--Mr. Richards!
gpt
Lucy
human
I forbid you to address me in that way, Mr. Richards.
gpt
Why, you were just going to call me Allen!
human
That was an accident, you know very well--an impulse.
gpt
Well, so is this.
human
Of which you ought to be ashamed to take advantage. I wonder at your presumption in speaking to me at all. It's quite idle, I can assure you. Everything is at an end between us. It seems that I bore with you too long; but I'm thankful that I had the spirit to act at last, and to act in time. And now that chance has thrown us together, I trust that you will not force your conversation upon me. No gentleman would, and I have always given you credit for thinking yourself a gentleman. I request that you will not speak to me.
gpt
You've spoken ten words to me for every one of mine to you. But I won't annoy you. I can't believe it, Lucy; I can _not_ believe it. It seems like some rascally dream, and if I had had any sleep since it happened, I should think I _had_ dreamed it.
human
Oh! You were sleeping soundly enough when I got into the car!
gpt
I own it; I was perfectly used up, and I _had_ dropped off.
human
Then perhaps you _have_ dreamed it.
gpt
I'll think so till you tell me again that our engagement is broken; that the faithful love of years is to go for nothing; that you dismiss me with cruel insult, without one word of explanation, without a word of intelligible accusation, even. It's too much! I've been thinking it all over and over, and I can't make head or tail of it. I meant to see you again as soon as we got to town, and implore you to hear me. Come, it's a mighty serious matter, Lucy. I'm not a man to put on heroics and that; but _I_ believe it'll play the very deuce with me, Lucy,--that is to say, Miss Galbraith,--I do indeed. It'll give me a low opinion of woman.
human
Oh, a very high opinion of woman you have had!
gpt
Well, there was one woman whom I thought a perfect angel.
human
Indeed! May I ask her name?
gpt
I shall be obliged to describe her somewhat formally as--Miss Galbraith.
human
Mr. Richards!
gpt
Why, you've just forbidden me to say _Lucy_. You must tell me, dearest, what I have done to offend you. The worst criminals are not condemned unheard, and I've always thought you were merciful if not just. And now I only ask you to be just.
human
You know very well what you've done. You can't expect me to humiliate myself by putting your offence into words.
gpt
Upon my soul, I don't know what you mean! I _don't_ know what I've done. When you came at me, last night, with my ring and presents and other little traps, you might have knocked me down with the lightest of the lot. I was perfectly dazed; I couldn't say anything before you were off, and all I could do was to hope that you'd be more like yourself in the morning. And in the morning, when I came round to Mrs. Phillips's I found you were gone, and I came after you by the next train.
human
Mr. Richards, your personal history for the last twenty-four hours is a matter of perfect indifference to me, as it shall be for the next twenty-four hundred years. I see that you are resolved to annoy me, and since _you_ will not leave the car, _I_ must do so. She rises haughtily from her seat, but the imprisoned skirt of her polonaise twitches her abruptly back into her chair. She bursts into tears.
gpt
Oh, what _shall_ I do!
human
You shall do whatever you like, Miss Galbraith, when I've set you free; for I see your dress is caught in the window. When it's once out, I'll shut the window, and you can call the porter to raise it. He leans forward over her chair, and while she shrinks back the length of her tether, he tugs at the window-fastening.
gpt
I can't get at it. Would you be so good as to stand up,--all you can? Miss Galbraith stands up, droopingly, and Mr. Richards makes a movement towards her, and then falls back.
human
No, that won't do. Please sit down again. He goes round her chair and tries to get at the window from that side.
gpt
I can't get any purchase on it. Why don't you cut out that piece? Miss Galbraith stares at him in dumb amazement.
human
Well, I don't see what we're to do. I'll go and get the porter. He goes to the end of the car, and returns.
gpt
I can't find the porter--he must be in one of the other cars. But --brightening with the fortunate conception--
human
I've just thought of something. Will it unbutton?
gpt
Unbutton?
human
Yes; this garment of yours.
gpt
My polonaise? Inquiringly:
human
Yes.
gpt
Well, then, it's a very simple matter. If you will just take it off I can easily
human
I can't. A polonaise isn't like an _over_coat
gpt
Oh! Well, then
human
The porter will be back soon. Don't trouble yourself any further about it, please. I shall do very well.
gpt
If you could kneel on that foot-cushion and face the window
human
So?
gpt
Yes, and now --kneeling beside her--
human
--he stretches both arms forward; she shrinks from his right into his left, and then back again,--
gpt
Yes, yes; but do hurry, please. If any one saw us, I don't know what they would think. It's perfectly ridiculous! --pulling.
human
It's caught in the corner of the window, between the frame and the sash, and it won't come! Is my hair troubling you? Is it in your eyes?
gpt
It's in my eyes, but it isn't troubling me. Am I inconveniencing you?
human
Oh, not at all.
gpt
Well, now then, pull hard!