human
Every perfect thing stops! Elizabeth sighed to David. They had left the porch, and gone down on to the sands flooded with moonlight and silence. The evening was very still and warm, and the full blue pour of the moon made everything softly unreal, except the glittering path of light crossing the breathing, black expanse of water. David had hesitated when she had suggested leaving the others and coming down here by themselves,--then he had looked at Nannie, sitting between Robert Ferguson and his mother, and seemed to reassure himself; but he was careful to choose a place on the beach where he could keep an eye on the porch. He was talking to Elizabeth in his anxious way, about his work, and how soon his income would be large enough for them to marry.
gpt
The minus sign expresses it now, he said;
human
I could kick myself when I think that, at twenty-six, my mother has to pay my washwoman! Their engagement had continued to accentuate the difference in the development of these two; David's manhood was more and more of the mind; Elizabeth's womanhood was most exquisitely of the body. When he spoke of his shame in being supported by his mother, she leaned her cheek on his shoulder, careless of the three spectators on the porch, and said softly,
gpt
David, I love you so that I would like to scrub floors for you. He laughed;
human
I wouldn't like to have you scrub floors, thank you! Why in thunder don't I get ahead faster, he sighed. Then he told her that the older men in the profession were
gpt
They are nothing but money-grabbers, Elizabeth agreed, burning with indignation at all successful physicians.
human
But David, we can live on very little. Corn-beef is very cheap, Cherry-pie says. So's liver.
gpt
Elizabeth is to have a little bit of money handed over to her on her next birthday, Mr. Ferguson was saying; then he twitched the black ribbon of his glasses and brought them tumbling from his nose;
human
Oh, how exciting! said Nannie.
gpt
Will it make it possible for them to be married any sooner?
human
They can't marry on the interest on it, he said, with his meager laugh;
gpt
Well, of course they must be prudent, but I am sorry to have them wait. It will be some time before David's practice is enough for them to marry on. He is so funny in planning their housekeeping expenses, she said, with that mother-laugh of mockery and love.
human
You should hear the economies they propose! And she told him some of them.
gpt
They make endless calculations as to how little they can possibly live on. You would never suppose they _could_ be so ignorant as to the cost of things! Of course I enlighten them when they deign to consult me. I do wish David would let me give him enough to get married on,
human
I think he's right not to,
gpt
David is so queer about money,
human
Pity Blair hasn't some of David's 'queerness,'
gpt
she thought, and resigned herself, comfortably, to Nannie's absence.
human
Does Elizabeth know about the legacy?
gpt
No, she hasn't an idea of it. I was bound that the expectation of money shouldn't spoil her.
human
Well, she jeered at him,
gpt
I do hope you are satisfied _now_, that she is not spoiled by money or anything else! How afraid you were to let yourself really love the child--poor little Elizabeth!
human
I had reason, he insisted doggedly.
gpt
Life had played a trick on me once, and I made up my mind not to build on anybody again, until I was sure of them. Then, without looking at her, he said, as if following out some line of thought,
human
I hope you have come to feel that you will marry me, Mrs. Richie?
gpt
I don't see why you can't make up your mind to it, he continued, frowning;
human
I know --he stopped, and put on his glasses carefully with both hands--
gpt
I know I am a bear, but--
human
You are not!
gpt
Don't interrupt. I am. But not at heart. Listen to me, at my age, talking about 'hearts'! They both laughed, and then Mr. Ferguson gave a snort of impatience.
human
Look at those two youngsters down there, engaged to be married, and swearing by the moon that nobody ever loved as they do. How absurd it is! A man has to be fifty before he knows enough about love to get married.
gpt
Nonsense!
human
I cannot take youth seriously, he ruminated;
gpt
he interrupted himself, in sudden somber memory,
human
I felt that way once myself. And yet _now_, I know--
gpt
Do call them in!
human
No; you don't need 'em. I won't say any more--to-night.
gpt
Here they come!
human
Let's go in.
gpt
Oh, must we? Elizabeth said, reluctantly.
human
I'd so much rather sit down here and have you kiss me.
gpt
Do tell Elizabeth about the money now,
human
I will, said Robert Ferguson; but added, under his breath,
gpt
I sha'n't give up, you know.
human
Elizabeth! she said, eagerly.
gpt
Your uncle has some news for you.
human
Don't get up your expectations, it's not much, he said, charily,
gpt
Oh, Uncle! how splendid! she said, and caught David's hand in both of hers.
human
David! --her face was radiantly unconscious of the presence of the others:
gpt
I'm afraid it won't make much difference. David spoke rather grimly;
human
I must be able to buy your shoestrings myself, you know, before we can be married.
gpt
Young people have to be prudent, dear child.
human
How much money shall I have, Uncle?
gpt
Not a fortune; but David needn't worry about your shoestrings.
human
Yes, I will, he broke in, with a laugh.
gpt
She'll have to go barefoot, if I can't get 'em for her!
human
Look out you don't fall over backward trying to stand up straight!
gpt
I wish we did not have to wait! For her part, she would have been glad
human
Take the girls home, will you, Blair?