human
What a big girl Marjorie grows! She is quite startling sometimes. One forgets she isn't a child.
gpt
She has grown up early--to fill my place,
human
Oh, I hope not, was the cheery response.
gpt
She could not do that, you know--at any rate, not so successfully. By the way, I came partly to ask about her. Is she engaged to Mr. Warde?
human
Engaged? No. She is scarcely eighteen.
gpt
But he evidently admires her--there is no mistaking that--he takes complete possession of her. Now, what do you wish about it?
human
It isn't what I wish, gently.
gpt
You are very kind--but Marjorie is a girl who will settle such a matter for herself.
human
Oh, but that is nonsense! Those things can always be managed with proper care.
gpt
But I should be sorry to have her managed. Nothing forced upon Marjorie will make her happy. She must be left to herself.
human
How mistaken! You would not leave her to herself if a bad man were in question.
gpt
I should take care not to put her in the way of a bad man,
human
You would prevent her meeting him? Exactly; then why act differently when it is someone you like? However, there is time for that. There is another matter. Do you know anything of Mr. Pelham's household?
gpt
No, nothing.
human
The Bishop likes him, thinks him a great acquisition, and he visits at Oldstead. I had him to dinner, and he and Charity sang nicely. I'm not sure, looking wise,
gpt
You share Sandy's opinion.
human
Ah! I heard your boys had taken to the baby. Perhaps that was what made her so tiresome this morning. I warned Mr. Pelham what mischiefs they were, candidly.
gpt
But the nurse is insufferable. Dressed in a sort of dove-coloured dress and a hat, and all her hair waved--kid gloves, and an embroidered skirt under her dress. I asked her if Mr. Pelham had given her leave to dress like that.
human
A man does not notice,
gpt
I told her that I should speak to him, as she did not seem to realise her own duty, and also about the child's dress. It was ridiculous.
human
A man could not know,
gpt
She was very impertinent, and then we found that the baby had run away. We could not find her anywhere, and she had got to the Bishop's room through the window. It seems that your boys had shown her the way. It seems rather hard that the Bishop of the diocese shouldn't be free from intrusion in his own palace. And he was very busy--just going off.
human
He is always good to the boys,
gpt
Good, yes--but that should prevent advantage being taken. And the baby has a temper, pursued Mrs. Lytchett.
human
She fought and screamed when I took her from his knee. She is evidently being brought up very badly indeed. I am going to see about it now. Do you think he will be back? I hear, in accents of disgust,
gpt
I hope he won't introduce these things into the Precincts, now we have kept them away so long. I should have thought they might very well be left to Blackton and such places.
human
Even the Duchess rides,