human
Your dear mother grieved so about it, Katie, she said.
gpt
She saw how it was going. It hurt her.
human
Yes, said Katie,
gpt
I know. It made mother very sad.
human
I am glad that her death came before the separation.
gpt
Oh, I don't know, said Katie;
human
I think mother would have been glad.
gpt
She did not believe in divorce; your mother and I, Katie, were the old-fashioned kind of churchwomen.
human
Neither did mother believe in unhappiness,
gpt
We cannot understand those things. It is a strange age in which we are living, Katie. I sometimes think that our only hope is to trust God a little more.
human
Or help man a little more,
gpt
Perhaps, said Mrs. Prescott gently,
human
I'm not sure I get the connecting link,
gpt
Why, child, you can't mean that. That would have hurt your mother.
human
If mother had understood just what I meant--understood all about it--I don't believe it would. A second time she was silent, as it struggled.
gpt
And if it had --she spoke it as a thing not to be lightly spoken--
human
I should be very deeply sorry, but I would not be able to help it.
gpt
Why, child! murmured her mother's friend.
human
You're talking strangely. You--the devoted daughter you always were--not able to 'help' hurting your mother?