human
And now I must go, she said at last.
gpt
You'll see me as far as the Angel, won't you? Of course he was ready to see her as far as the Angel.
human
What am I to say to the Squire?
gpt
Say nothing.
human
And what am I to say to aunt?
gpt
Say to her? Just say what you have said all along.
human
I've said nothing all along,--just to oblige you, Felix. I must say something. A girl has got herself to mind. What have you got to say to me, Felix?
gpt
If you bother me I shall cut it, you know.
human
Cut it!
gpt
Yes;--cut it. Can't you wait till I am ready to say something?
human
Waiting will be the ruin o' me, if I wait much longer. Where am I to go, if Mrs. Pipkin won't have me no more?
gpt
I'll find a place for you.
human
You find a place! No; that won't do. I've told you all that before. I'd sooner go into service, or--
gpt
Go back to John Crumb.
human
John Crumb has more respect for me nor you. He'd make me his wife to-morrow, and only be too happy.
gpt
I didn't tell you to come away from him,
human
Yes, you did. You told me as I was to come up to London when I saw you at Sheepstone Beeches;--didn't you? And you told me you loved me;--didn't you? And that if I wanted anything you'd get it done for me;--didn't you?
gpt
So I will. What do you want? I can give you a couple of sovereigns, if that's what it is.
human
No it isn't;--and I won't have your money. I'd sooner work my fingers off. I want you to say whether you mean to marry me. There!
gpt
on the part of Ruby Ruggles to ask to be his wife. He did not care for the lie, but he did not like to seem to lower himself by telling such a lie as that at her dictation.
human
Marry, Ruby! No, I don't ever mean to marry. It's the greatest bore out. I know a trick worth two of that.
gpt
And what do you mean that I'm to do, Sir Felix?
human
Just go easy, and not make yourself a bother.
gpt
Not make myself a bother! Oh, but I will; I will. I'm to be carrying on with you, and nothing to come of it; but for you to tell me that you don't mean to marry, never at all! Never?
human
Don't you see lots of old bachelors about, Ruby?
gpt
Of course I does. There's the Squire. But he don't come asking girls to keep him company.
human
That's more than you know, Ruby.
gpt
If he did he'd marry her out of hand,--because he's a gentleman. That's what he is, every inch of him. He never said a word to a girl,--not to do her any harm, I'm sure, and Ruby began to cry.
human
You mustn't come no further now, and I'll never see you again--never! I think you're the falsest young man, and the basest, and the lowest-minded that I ever heard tell of. I know there are them as don't keep their words. Things turn up, and they can't. Or they gets to like others better; or there ain't nothing to live on. But for a young man to come after a young woman, and then say, right out, as he never means to marry at all, is the lowest-spirited fellow that ever was. I never read of such a one in none of the books. No, I won't. You go your way, and I'll go mine.