human
She used not to be thus, said Lady Louvaine.
gpt
Truly, I know not what hath thus sorrowfully changed the poor child; but I would some means might be found to undo the same. Even for some years after Ned's death, I mind not this change; it came on right slowly and by degrees.
human
Ay, we are all weak some whither, replied Aunt Joyce;
gpt
Nay, who mean you?
human
I mean the two lads--Hans and Aubrey.
gpt
Hans is a good lad, truly.
human
Hans has more goodness in him than you have seen the end of, by many a mile. But Aubrey!
gpt
You reckon not Aubrey an ill one, I hope?
human
By which you mean, one that purposes ill? Oh no, by no means. He is a far commoner character--one that hath no purpose, and so being, doth more real ill than he that sets forth to do it of malicious intent.
gpt
Are you assured you wrong not the lad, Joyce, in so saying?
human
If I do, you shall full shortly know it. I trust it may be so. But he seems to me to have a deal more of Walter in him than Ned, and to be right the opposite of our Aubrey in all main conditions.
gpt
Ah, sighed the widow, in a very tender tone,
human
Then after a little pause,
gpt
And what sayest thou to Lettice--my little Lettice?
human
Not so very unlike an other Lettice that once I knew, said she.
gpt
Something less like to fall in the same trap, methinks, and rather more like to fall in an other.
human
Now, tell me what other?
gpt
I mean, dear heart, less conceit of her favour [beauty], and more of her wisdom. A little over-curious and ready to meddle in matters that concern her not. A good temper, methinks, and more patience than either of her aunts on the father's side: as to humility--well, we have none of us too much of that.
human
Joyce, wouldst thou like to have us leave Lettice a while with thee? She could wait on thee and read to thee, and be like a daughter to thee. I will, if thou wouldst wish it.
gpt
Nay, that would I not, Lettice, for the child's own sake. It were far better for her to go with you. There is an offer thou couldst make me, of that fashion, that my self-denial were not equal to refuse. So see thou make it not.
human
What, now? Not Hans, trow?
gpt
Edith.
human
O Joyce!
gpt
Ay, dear heart, I know. Nay, fear not. I'll not take the last bud off the old tree. But, thyself saved, Lettice, there is none left in all the world that I love as I love her. Perchance she will find it out one day.
human
Joyce, my dear sister--
gpt
Hold thy peace, Lettice. I'll not have her, save now and again on a visit. And not that now. Thou shouldst miss her sorely, in settling down in thy new home. Where shall it be?
human
In the King's Street of Westminster. My good Lord Oxford hath made earnest with a gentleman, a friend of his, that hath there an estate, to let us on long lease an house and garden he hath, that now be standing empty.
gpt
Ay, that is a pleasant, airy place, nigh the fields. At what rent?
human
Twenty-four shillings the quarter. Houses be dearer there than up in Holborn, yet not so costly as in the City; and it shall not be far for Aubrey, being during the day in the Court with his Lord.
gpt
Lettice, you shall need to pray for that boy.
human
What shall I ask for him, Joyce?
gpt
O Joyce!