human
Good-night, little Spring,
gpt
Is it 'cos I'm a wicked girl you're sad?
human
No, he answered,
gpt
Oh, no, father, answered Sibyl,
human
You spoil that child, said the wife,
gpt
I wish you would leave the child alone, said Ogilvie in an annoyed voice;
human
I have given you my views on that subject, Philip; I am going.
gpt
I would much rather you did not.
human
I am sorry. Mrs. Ogilvie shrugged her shoulders.
gpt
I am willing to please you in all reasonable matters; this is unreasonable, therefore I shall take my own way.
human
It is impossible for me to accompany you.
gpt
I can live without you for a few days, and I shall take the child.
human
Sibyl! No, I do not wish it.
gpt
I fear you must put up with it. I have written to say that Sibyl and I will go down on Saturday.
human
You know as well as I do the reasons why it would be best for you not to go to Grayleigh Manor at present, he said.
gpt
You can easily write to give an excuse. Remember, we were both asked, and the fact that I cannot leave town is sufficient reason for you to decline.
human
I am going,
gpt
Is that your last word?
human
It is, I go on Saturday. If you were not so disagreeable and disobliging you could easily come with me, but you never do anything to please me.
gpt
Nor you to please me, Mildred, he was about to say, but he restrained himself. After a pause he said gently,
human
There is one thing that makes the situation almost unbearable.
gpt
And what is that?
human
The attitude of little Sibyl toward us both. She thinks us--Mildred, she thinks us perfect. What will happen to the child when her eyes are opened?
gpt
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, was Mrs. Ogilvie's flippant remark.
human
But that attitude is much encouraged by you. You make her morbid and sensitive.
gpt
Morbid! Sibyl morbid! There never was a more open-hearted, frank, healthy creature. Did you not hear her say at dinner that she would not be a flabby good girl for anything? Now, I must tell you that perhaps wrong as that speech was, it rejoiced my heart.
human
And it sickened me, said Mrs. Ogilvie.
gpt
You do everything in your power to make her eccentric. Now, I don't wish to have an eccentric daughter. I wish to have a well brought up girl, who will be good while she is young, speak properly, not make herself in any way remarkable, learn her lessons, and make a successful _debut_ in Society, all in due course.
human
With a view, doubtless, to a brilliant marriage,
gpt
I am going to knock all of this nonsense out of Sibyl, was his wife's answer,