human
My dear Mrs. Chatterton, said Mrs. Whitney in the gentlest of accents,
gpt
Polly dear, said Mrs. Whitney with a smile,
human
Good-morning, Mrs. Chatterton,
gpt
Good-morning,
human
Who is she?
gpt
Who? he cried.
human
Oh, Polly! what has happened?
gpt
Mrs. Chatterton. And she looked at me--oh! I can't tell you how she looked; as if I were a bug, or a hateful worm beneath her, cried Polly, quite as much aghast at herself.
human
It makes me feel horridly, Jasper--you can't think. Oh! that old --He stopped, pulling himself up with quite an effort.
gpt
Has she come back--what brought her, pray tell, so soon?
human
I don't know, I am sure, said Polly, laughing at his face.
gpt
I was only in the room a moment, I think, but it seemed an age with that eyeglass, and that hateful little laugh.
human
Oh! she always sticks up that thing in her eye, said Jasper coolly,
gpt
He looked and spoke annoyed.
human
To think you fell into her clutches!
gpt
Well, who is she? cried Polly, smoothing down her ruffled feathers, when she saw the effect of her news on him.
human
I should dearly love to know.
gpt
Cousin Algernon's wife,
human
And who is he?
gpt
Oh! a cousin of father's, said Jasper.
human
He was nice, but he's dead.
gpt
Oh!
human
She's been abroad for a good half-dozen years, and why she doesn't stay there when everybody supposed she was going to, astonishes me, said Jasper, after a moment.
gpt
Well, it will not be for long, I presume, that we shall have the honor; she'll be easily tired of America, and take herself off again.
human
She doesn't stay in this house, does she, Jasper?
gpt
No; that is, unless she chooses to, then we can't turn her off. She's a relative, you know.
human
Hasn't she any home? asked Polly,
gpt
Home? Yes, an estate down in Bedford County?-Dunraven Lodge; but it's all shut up, and in the hands of agents who have been trying for the half-dozen years she was abroad, to sell it for her. She may have come back to settle down there again, there's no telling what she will do. In the meantime, I fancy she'll make her headquarters here,
human
Oh, Jasper! exclaimed Polly, seizing his arm, feeling that here was need of comfort indeed,
gpt
I don't see what can, said Jasper, prolonging the gloom to feel the comfort it brought.
human
You see she has nobody who wants her, to step in and relieve us. She has two nephews, but oh! you ought to see them fight!
gpt
Fight?
human
Yes; you can't dignify their skirmishes by any other name, said Jasper, in disgust.
gpt
So you see our chances for keeping her as long as she condescends to stay are really very good.
human
It is greatly to your discredit, Marian, said Mrs. Chatterton in a high, cold voice,
gpt
On the contrary, said Mrs. Whitney with a little laugh,
human
I did everything I could to further the plan that father wisely made.
gpt
Wisely! cried Mrs. Chatterton in scorn.
human
Oh, you silly child! don't you see what it will all tend to?
gpt
I see that it has made us all very happy for five years, said Mrs. Whitney, preserving her composure,
human
The future is all you have to dread, declared Mrs. Chatterton harshly.
gpt
The present may be well enough; though I should think existence with that low, underbred family here, would be a
human
You may pause just where you are, Mrs. Chatterton, said Marian, still with the gentlest of accents, but with a determination that made the other look down at her in astonishment,
gpt
Dear me, Marian! I begin to notice your age more now. You shouldn't fly into such rages; they wear on one fearfully; and especially for a stranger too, and against your own people--how can you?
human
It's trying, I must confess, she declared, alternately applying the invigorating salts and waving the combination of gauze and sandalwood,
gpt
and a heavy sigh,
human
I must bear it.
gpt
You ought to see father, cried Mrs. Whitney, rising.
human
I must go at once and tell him of your arrival.
gpt
Oh! I don't know that I care about seeing Cousin Horatio yet, said Mrs. Chatterton carelessly.
human
He will probably fall into one of his rages, and my nerves have been upset quite enough by you. I think I'll go directly to my apartments.
gpt
Father must at once be informed of your arrival, repeated Marian quietly.
human
I'll send him in to see you.
gpt
And I shall go to my apartments,
human
Hoity-toity!