human
I don't know what you should have to say to me, Lord Nidderdale.
gpt
Why shouldn't I have something to say to you?
human
Because--. Oh, you know why. Besides, I've told you ever so often, my lord. I thought a gentleman would never go on with a lady when the lady has told him that she liked somebody else better.
gpt
Perhaps I don't believe you when you tell me.
human
Well; that is impudent! You may believe it then. I think I've given you reason to believe it, at any rate.
gpt
You can't be very fond of him now, I should think.
human
That's all you know about it, my lord. Why shouldn't I be fond of him? Accidents will happen, you know.
gpt
I don't want to make any allusion to anything that's unpleasant, Miss Melmotte.
human
You may say just what you please. All the world knows about it. Of course I went to Liverpool, and of course papa had me brought back again.
gpt
Why did not Sir Felix go?
human
I don't think, my lord, that that can be any business of yours.
gpt
But I think that it is, and I'll tell you why. You might as well let me say what I've got to say,--out at once.
human
You may say what you like, but it can't make any difference.
gpt
You knew me before you knew him, you know.
human
What does that matter? If it comes to that, I knew ever so many people before I knew you.
gpt
And you were engaged to me.
human
You broke it off.
gpt
Listen to me for a moment or two. I know I did. Or, rather, your father and my father broke it off for us.
human
If we had cared for each other they couldn't have broken it off. Nobody in the world could break me off as long as I felt that he really loved me;--not if they were to cut me in pieces. But you didn't care, not a bit. You did it just because your father told you. And so did I. But I know better than that now. You never cared for me a bit more than for the old woman at the crossing. You thought I didn't understand;--but I did. And now you've come again;--because your father has told you again. And you'd better go away.
gpt
There's a great deal of truth in what you say.
human
It's all true, my lord. Every word of it.
gpt
I wish you wouldn't call me my lord.
human
I suppose you are a lord, and therefore I shall call you so. I never called you anything else when they pretended that we were to be married, and you never asked me. I never even knew what your name was till I looked it out in the book after I had consented.
gpt
There is truth in what you say;--but it isn't true now. How was I to love you when I had seen so little of you? I do love you now.
human
Then you needn't;--for it isn't any good.
gpt
I do love you now, and I think you'd find that I should be truer to you than that fellow who wouldn't take the trouble to go down to Liverpool with you.
human
You don't know why he didn't go.
gpt
Well;--perhaps I do. But I did not come here to say anything about that.
human
Why didn't he go, Lord Nidderdale? She asked the question with an altered tone and an altered face.
gpt
If you really know, you might as well tell me.
human
No, Marie;--that's just what I ought not to do. But he ought to tell you. Do you really in your heart believe that he means to come back to you?
gpt
I don't know, she said, sobbing.
human
I do love him;--I do indeed. I know that you are good-natured. You are more good-natured than he is. But he did like me. You never did;--no; not a bit. It isn't true. I ain't a fool. I know. No;--go away. I won't let you now. I don't care what he is; I'll be true to him. Go away, Lord Nidderdale. You oughtn't to go on like that because papa and mamma let you come here. I didn't let you come. I don't want you to come. No;--I won't say any kind word to you. I love Sir Felix Carbury better--than any person--in all the world. There! I don't know whether you call that kind, but it's true.
gpt
Say good-bye to me, Marie.
human
Oh, I don't mind saying good-bye. Good-bye, my lord; and don't come any more.
gpt
Yes, I shall. Good-bye, Marie. You'll find the difference between me and him yet. So he took his leave, and as he sauntered away he thought that upon the whole he had prospered, considering the extreme difficulties under which he had laboured in carrying on his suit.
human
She's quite a different sort of girl from what I took her to be, he said to himself.
gpt
Upon my word, she's awfully jolly.