human
Taffy, you ought not to have spoken so.
gpt
Miss Honoria!
human
Miss Honoria—I am sorry. He overtook her, but she turned her face away.
gpt
Forgive me——
human
The first time I came to see you, _he_ whipped me,
gpt
I am sorry; please——
human
Taffy——
gpt
Miss Honoria.
human
I said—Taffy.
gpt
Honoria, then.
human
Do you know what it is to feel lonely, here?
gpt
Why, yes, said he;
human
I think we have been the loneliest children in the whole world—you and I and George; only George didn't feel it in the same way. And now it's coming to an end with you. You are going up to Oxford, and soon you will have heaps of friends. Can you not understand? Suppose there were two prisoners, alone in the same prison, but shut in different cells; and one heard that the other's release had come. He would feel—would he not?—that now he was going to be lonelier than ever. And yet he might be glad of the other's liberty, and if the chance were given, might be the happier for shaking hands with the other and wishing him joy.
gpt
But you are going over to Carwithiel, and George is famous company.
human
I am going over to Carwithiel because I hate Tredinnis. I hate every stone of it, and will sell the place as soon as ever I come of age. And George is the best fellow in the world. Some day I shall marry him (Oh, it's all arranged!) and we shall live at Carwithiel and be quite happy; for I like him, and he likes people to be happy. And we shall talk of you. Being out of the world ourselves, we shall talk of you, and the great things you are going to do, and the great things you are doing. We shall say to each other, 'It's all very well for the world to be proud of him, but we have the best right; for we grew up with him and know the stories he used to tell us, and when the time came for his going, it was we who waved from the door'——
gpt
Honoria——
human
But there is one thing you haven't told; and you shall now, if you care to—about your examination and what you did at Oxford.