human
I'm so glad you came back. We saw you drive away but we had to come now for Miss Thorley's going to be so awfully busy that she couldn't come for weeks and weeks.
gpt
Is she? Mr. Jerry looked oddly at Miss Thorley, but Miss Thorley refused to look at him.
human
The best laid plans of mice and men,
gpt
Are you telling her about George Washington?
human
That's better, he said.
gpt
No, Mary Rose, I was not just then referring to George Washington, but I can assure you that he is untiringly on the job. He brought a dead mouse to me at six o'clock this morning. At six o'clock! impressively.
human
I thought I had the nightmare when I opened my eyes and saw old George standing there with a mouse in his mouth. He's working overtime. He should take a rest. He'll injure his health if he attends too strictly to business, Mary Rose.
gpt
I know. Mary Rose nodded a wise head.
human
Too much work doesn't make good red blood. Aunt Kate was just telling us, wasn't she, Miss Thorley, that all the money you make won't buy good times nor red blood. She was telling us that very thing not ten minutes ago.
gpt
Your Aunt Kate is a very wise, wise woman. It's a pity others can't see it.
human
If they could they'd have old heads on young shoulders, perhaps, suggested Mary Rose.
gpt
You wouldn't like that, would you? Just suppose Mrs. Schuneman's head was on Miss Thorley's shoulders. How would you like that?
human
I shouldn't like it at all. I shouldn't want any head on Miss Thorley's shoulders but her very own. It suits me there--perfectly. Mr. Jerry eyed Miss Thorley rather critically and screwed his eyes half shut as Miss Thorley did when she was looking at the model she was painting, and his voice was as firm as a voice could be.
gpt
Even to have her as wise as your Aunt Kate I shouldn't want her to have Mrs. Schuneman's head.
human
And just suppose you had Mr. Wells' head and he had yours?
gpt
Mr. Wells wouldn't keep my head for a minute. Perhaps it is just as well to leave heads where they are.
human
I used to want to change mine, Mary Rose confided to them soberly.
gpt
You know I've millions of freckles and my hair's as straight as a string. Nobody ever thinks I'm pretty like Gladys. One day Mrs. Evans told me that pretty is as pretty does and for almost a week I did my best to do pretty, the very prettiest I knew how. But no one ever stopped and said, 'What a beautiful child,' as they do when they see Gladys. Gladys is afraid of dogs and she screams when she sees a mouse. She's even afraid of her tables. So I tried to think I had more real good times by being brave instead of beautiful. Oh! she broke off with a squeal of delight, for Mr. Jerry's Aunt Mary brought in a pitcher of lemonade and a plate of little cakes gay with white and pink frosting.
human
Oh, Miss Thorley! aren't you glad now that you came?