human
I got my things off early, so as to leave you Emily,
gpt
What a dear she is!
human
Quite a find! The General sent her to me. Her husband was a sergeant-major in his regiment--killed in South Africa.
gpt
She calls me 'miss.'
human
Better than that silly 'Mrs. Smith' you said to Bob Purnett. Only unhappy women try to make epigrams. And for a woman to be unhappy is to be a failure.
gpt
Isn't that one--almost--Mrs. Lenoir?
human
Quite quick, my dear! her hostess commented.
gpt
But if it is, it's old. I told Emily you were a second cousin. I never know exactly what it means, but in my experience it's quite useful. But please yourself, Winnie. Who will you be?
human
Did Emily believe what you told her?
gpt
She's much too good a servant ever to raise that question. What was your name?
human
My maiden name? Wilkins.
gpt
I think names ending in 'kins' are very ugly, said Mrs. Lenoir.
human
But a modification? What about Wilson? 'Winnie Wilson' is quite pretty.
gpt
Names, observed Mrs. Lenoir,
human
She looked across the hearthrug, confidently expecting Winnie's approval.
gpt
I liked it, and it stuck in my memory.
human
It does make things simpler, Mrs. Lenoir.
gpt
Mind you, I wouldn't take a great name I hadn't a right to. Courtenays and Devereauxes in the chorus are very bad form. But I don't see why you shouldn't be Wilson. And the 'Miss' avoids a lot of questions.
human
All right. Miss Winnie Wilson be it! It sounds like a new toy. And now, Mrs. Lenoir, for the other problem that Emily has raised. Who's the General?