human
Mr. Iglesias! Well, of all people! Whoever would have expected to see you at this early hour of the day?
gpt
Talk of a certain gentleman and that gentleman appears, Miss Eliza Hart whispered. Then wagging her finger at her host,
human
Now don't you forget that little question of mine. Find out his intentions, just, as you may say, under the rose. But there's Peachie signalling to go.
gpt
My good sir, don't be afraid. I am a man of the world as well as a Christian. I will handle you gently. I won't hurt you.
human
I think I caught a foreign name, he remarked.
gpt
You are paying a visit to London? I hope our capital makes an agreeable impression upon you.
human
The visit has been of such long duration, Iglesias answered,
gpt
Ah! indeed--no doubt that happens in some measure to all of us. I am to understand that you are a resident?
human
In this district?
gpt
Indeed. Really, I wish I had known it sooner. It always gives me pleasure to meet persons of another nationality than my own. Intercourse with them makes for liberality of view. It often dispels anti-English prejudice. I am always glad to be helpful to strangers.
human
You are very kind,
gpt
Not at all--not at all. I hold very practical views not only regarding the duties of the Englishman to the alien, but of the pastor towards his flock. But I find it almost impossible, I regret to say, to become personally acquainted with all my parishioners. My curates are capital young fellows--earnest, active, go-ahead. But in a large area such as this there is always a shifting population with which the clergy, however energetic, find it difficult to keep in touch. We are obliged to discriminate between dwellers and sojourners. As soon as any person is proved to be a _bona fide_ dweller my curates pass his or her name on to me, and either I or my wife call in due course.
human
An excellent system, no doubt,
gpt
I find it works very well on the whole. But no system is infallible. There must be occasional oversights, and you have been the victim of one. I mention this to disabuse your mind of the idea of any intentional neglect. Well, Mrs. Lovegrove, and so our good friends Mrs. Porcher and Miss Hart have gone--estimable women both of them in their own line. I ought to be running away, too, and I have just been having a word with your other guest here, Mr.----
human
Iglesias,
gpt
Iglesias?--ah! yes, thank you--I have been explaining to Mr. Iglesias our system of parochial visiting and quoting our well-known joke about the dwellers and sojourners. You remember it? He has, I regret to find, been counted among the latter, while he has qualified as one of the former. The mistake must be remedied. Well, good-by to you, Mrs. Lovegrove; I shall see your good husband on my way downstairs. Good-day to you, Mr. Iglesias. I shall hope to meet you again.