human
Elcot, she asked,
gpt
No, he answered,
human
I don't think that, so long as you were able to manage it with the little help I could give you. He paused a moment, and looked puzzled, for there was a suspicion of heightened color in Florence's face.
gpt
On the whole, I'm glad you went, if you enjoyed the visit.
human
You don't seem very sure. Wasn't it rather dull for you here?
gpt
Oh, I had the place to look after, as usual. It's fortunate that it occupies a good deal of my attention.
human
Elcot, won't you tell me exactly how much you mean by that?
gpt
Well, he said gravely,
human
He checked her with a lifted hand as she was about to speak.
gpt
If you had never met me, you would probably have taken the next man with means who came along.
human
Yes, admitted Florence, meeting his gaze.
gpt
I think that's true. Having gone so far, hadn't you better proceed?
human
I'm trying to look at it from your standpoint; I've never been sorry on my own account.
gpt
That's a little difficult to believe. Still, one must do you the justice to own that you have, at least, never mentioned your regrets.
human
I don't think I've often mentioned my expectations either. That's one reason I'm speaking now. You seem--approachable--to-night.
gpt
I suppose they were not fulfilled?
human
If they were not, it was my own fault. I took you out of the environment you were suited to and content with.
gpt
I wasn't, Florence declared sharply.
human
Things were horribly unpleasant to me then. I was struggling desperately to earn a living, and had to put up with a good deal from most disagreeable people.
gpt
After all, perfect candor is a little painful now and then; but let me go on. At least, I brought you into an environment with which you were not content. The kind of life I led was irksome to you; you could not help me in it; even to hear me talk of what I did each day was burdensome to you. I couldn't speak of my plans for the future, or the difficulties that must be met and faced continually. For a while I felt it badly.
human
Yes, Florence acknowledged,
gpt
It could be borne, but there was another side of the matter. It was clear that you were longing for company, stir, gaiety--and I could not give them to you. As I've often said, I'm not rich enough to make a mark in any of the cities, unless I went into business, for which I've neither the training nor inclination, and most of my money is sunk in the land here. It's difficult to sell a farm of this size for anything like its value unless wheat is dear. Besides, the friends you would wish to make wouldn't take to me. That is certain; I lived among people of their description before I met you. I couldn't in any way have helped you to make yourself a leading place in the only kind of society that would satisfy you. All this has stood between us--no doubt it was unavoidable--but it made the troubles I could share with no one a little worse to bear, and my few successes of less account to me. After all, since I could, at least, send you to the cities now and then, it was fortunate that I had my farm. He stopped a moment and added deprecatingly:
human
Whether you will be able to get away next winter is more than I know. As I said, the outlook is far from promising in the meanwhile.