human
Almost country,
gpt
Wouldn't you like to run away with me to-night? Feel this breeze on your lips--it's simply plumb-full of mystery. Wouldn't you like to run away? and we'd tramp the Palisades till dawn and go to sleep with the May sun glaring down the Hudson. Wouldn't you like to, wouldn't you?
human
Yes! Actually, Una Golden of Panama and the _Gazette_ office speculated, for a tenth of a second, whether she couldn't go. Madness--river-flow and darkness and the stars! But she said,
gpt
No, I'm afraid we couldn't possibly!
human
No, he said, slowly.
gpt
Of course--of course I didn't mean we _could_; but--Goldie, little Goldie that wants to live and rule things, wouldn't you _like_ to go? _Wouldn't_ you?
human
Yes!... You hurt my arm so!... Oh, don't! We must--
gpt
Poor kid!... Which way? Come. They walked soberly toward the Golden flat, and soberly he mused,
human
Poor kids, both of us trying to be good slaves in an office when we want to smash things.... You'll be a queen--you'll grab the throne same as you grab papers offn my desk. And maybe you'll let me be court jester.
gpt
Why do you say I'll--oh, be a queen? Do you mean literally, in business, an executive?
human
Hadn't thought just what it did imply, but I suppose it's that.
gpt
But why, _why_? I'm simply one of a million stenographers.
human
Oh, well, you aren't satisfied to take things just as they're handed to you. Most people are, and they stick in a rut and wonder who put them there. All this success business is a mystery--listen to how successful men trip themselves up and fall all over their foolish faces when they try to explain to a bunch of nice, clean, young clerks how they stole their success. But I know you'll get it, because you aren't satisfied easily--you take my work and do it. And yet you're willing to work in one corner till it's time to jump. That's my failing--I ain't willing to stick.
gpt
I--perhaps---- Here's the flat.
human
Lord! he cried;
gpt
Well--
human
Well.
gpt
Think of wasting this hypnotizing evening talking of success--word that means a big house in Yonkers! When we've become friends, Goldie, little Goldie. Business of souls grabbing for each other! Friends--at least to-night! Haven't we, dear? haven't we?
human
Oh, I hope so!
gpt
or