human
Working! Well, so have I. But working at what? Did you hire out to Junkins again? I thought you said you wouldn't till fall. Billy Louise was watching Ward rather closely, perhaps to see how far she might trust his recovered inscrutability.
gpt
Why don't you show some human inquisitiveness about my being here?
human
It wouldn't be polite to be inquisitive about a lady, would it?
gpt
N-no--but, then, you never bother about being just polite! Charlie Fox would--
human
Charlie Fox would think you came to see him, Ward asserted uncharitably.
gpt
My head isn't swelled to that extent. Why did you come, anyway?
human
To see you. Billy Louise lost her nerve when she saw the light leap into his eyes.
gpt
To see whether you were dead or not, she revised hastily,
human
I see I'll have to ride down and prove to mommie that I'm very much alive. I'm sure glad to know that somebody takes an interest in me--as if I were a real human.
gpt
Why didn't you come before, then? You know mommie likes to have you.
human
How about mommie's child?
gpt
Listen here, Ward. Billy Louise took refuge behind her terrible frankness.
human
If you make love, I won't like you half as well. Don't you know that all the time when I used to play with my pretend Ward Warren, he--he never made love? A dimple tried to show itself in her cheek and was sent about its business with a twist of her lips.
gpt
My pretend Ward was lovely; he liked me to pieces, but he never came right out and said so. He--he skated around the subject-- Billy Louise illustrated the skating process by drawing her forefinger in a wide circle around her cup.
human
He made love--with his eyes--and he kissed me with his--voice--but he never spoiled it with words.
gpt
Nothing of the kind! Billy Louise flew to the defense of her
human
gpt
He knew just exactly how a girl likes to be made love to. And, anyway, you've been doing the selfsame thing yourself, Ward Warren, till just now. And--
human
Oh, have I?
gpt
Yes, you have. And I might have known better than to--to startle you. You always, eternally, do something nobody'd ever dream of your doing. The first time, when I threw that chip, you pulled a gun on me-- The voice of Billy Louise squeezed down to a wisp of a whisper. Her eyes were remorseful.
human
Oh, Ward, I didn't mean to--to--
gpt
It's all right. I've got it coming. It was as if a mask had dropped before Ward's features. Even his eyes looked strange and hard in that face of set muscles, though the thin, bitter lips and quivering nostrils showed that there was feeling behind it all.
human
I see where you're right, William. You needn't be afraid; I won't make love again.