human
See here, my dear little sister, and sitting down he takes the small, cold hand in his.
gpt
I will tell you the truth. There is nothing horrible or disgraceful in it! Your father proposed that instead of having any business trouble to be years in the course of settlement, I should marry you, as the patent was in such an uncertain state and he had invested everything in it. It simply joined the fortunes, don't you see? Well, I was a dumb, blundering idiot, head over heels in an infatuation, and knew nothing about you, but it will be the regret of my whole life that I did _not_ come when Floyd sent for me. And I suppose he fell in love with you himself; he could not have cared for the fortune, he had enough of his own.
human
You did not--despise me?
gpt
Despise you? Why, I didn't know anything about you. The young man's lethargic conscience gives him a severe prick. He should not have made light of it to Laura and madame, but he _did_ bind them to inviolate secrecy.
human
If I had seen you I should not have despised you, I should have married you, he says, triumphantly.
gpt
If you were free to-day, I should ask you to marry me. I think you the sweetest and most rarely honest girl I have ever met, and you _are_ beautiful, though I wouldn't own that at first. Despise you? Why, I would fight the whole world for you, and I will, if----
human
No, she interrupts. Even his spirited defence cannot restore what has been so rudely wrenched away. She feels so old, so weary, so desolate, that nothing matters.
gpt
It is not so bad----
human
Why, there is nothing bad about it at all, he declares, impatiently.
gpt
Don't the English and the French plan marriages, and there are people here whose parents join fortunes, lots of them! Marcia was angry and wanted to mortify you. The idea of marrying Jasper Wilmarth and then lording it over everybody, is too good! And as for flirting--well, I wouldn't dare flirt with you, he says, laughingly.
human
Floyd would soon settle me. I like you too well, I honor you too much, he continues.
gpt
There, will you not be comforted with something? Oh, I have a letter from Floyd, and he will be home to-morrow night! I came to bring it to you.