human
Your mind is at that typewriter,
gpt
Of course it is, complained Archie.
human
She'd be at the thing all day long, if I didn't drag her out in the fields occasionally to work!
gpt
Archie thinks writing is not work, she interpolated,
human
she apologized.
gpt
It's just that a crisis is on the way, and thoughts seem to come faster than I can get them down.--Luckily for you I've got a public now to spill them onto, instead of you!
human
Do you find the public as responsive?
gpt
cried the proud husband.
human
Letters in every mail, and requests for autographs--why, she's a public character! The other day in a street-car--Tell him what happened the other day in the street-car, Joan.
gpt
Ain't I the most wonder-fullest boy?--Well, the other day in a street-car, Stefan, a perfectly strange man came up to me and said, 'Aren't you the Mrs. Blair who writes? Say, what business have _you_ got knowing how scared a man is of his grown son? You're only a girl.'
human
I congratulate you, said Nikolai.
gpt
Yes, that is response. Taking the world into your circle of intimates--that is the thing that makes the game worth while for people like you and me.
human
Don't include me with yourself, she protested in quick deprecation.
gpt
I'm not and never shall be 'literary.' Human nature is all I'm after, Stefan. Villains who won't stay villains; heroes with fatal flaws of character; good, fine, noble natures who spread havoc all about 'em--that's the sort of thing I want to do; never 'literature'!
human
Spoken like a true Cobzar!--But at that rate you'll find it difficult to escape literature, my dear. He rose to leave, against protests.
gpt
No, no, I have no intention of sharing honors with a Climax. Let me come back to-morrow, when the crisis is out of her system. I know how that is!
human
You always know how things are,
gpt
You think she's looking well, sir?
human
Better than well, Blair. Content.
gpt
I think so myself--though of course it's the kid who's done that, not me--Mr. Nikolai, I've got to talk to you on business. How big a hurry are you in for that money you lent me?
human
None at all, answered the other pleasantly.
gpt
I've accumulated a good deal of moss for such a rolling-stone--a racial trait, perhaps! Take your time. You've already paid me more than half, I think.
human
Joan's book did most of that, not me, admitted Archie, flushing.
gpt
Though of course I'm going to pay her back.
human
Don't,
gpt
Our only hold upon such as Joan is--our need of them.
human
I get you, he said at last.
gpt
Let 'em think we're sort of helpless, like--like children, eh? But it's pretty hard accepting money from a woman!
human
Why? When we have consented to accept life itself from a woman--Where there is love there is no debt, Blair!
gpt
I guess that's right, said Archie slowly.
human
What's mine is hers of course; and so what's hers is mine--But speaking of the war--