human
Of course there is nobody in Mercer for whose opinion I care a copper, Blair said. They were sitting in their parlor at the hotel; Elizabeth staring out of the window at the river, Blair leaning forward in his chair, touching once in a while, with timid fingers, a fold of her skirt that brushed his knee.
gpt
Of course I don't care for a lot of gossiping old hens; but it will be pleasanter for you not to be meeting people, perhaps?
human
Mamma is terribly displeased, I am afraid, though she hasn't said a word since the night I told her. Then she said very severe things--and oh, Blair, dear, why _did_ you do it the way you did? I think Elizabeth was perfectly-- The unfinished sentence was scratched out.
gpt
You _must_ be nice to Mamma when you come home,
human
She'll kick, Blair said, sighing;
gpt
In his own mind, he added that, after all, no amount of kicking would alter the fact. And again the little exultant smile came about his lips.
human
As for being 'nice,' Nannie might as well talk about being '_nice_' to a circular saw, he said, gaily. His efforts to be gay, to amuse or interest Elizabeth, were almost pathetic in their intensity.
gpt
Well! the sooner I'll go, the sooner I'll get it over! he said, and reached for his hat; Elizabeth was silent.
human
You might wish me luck!
gpt
Everything is so perfectly hideous, he said to himself,
human
Is she upset still? She mustn't blame Elizabeth! It was all my doing. I sort of swept Elizabeth off her feet, you know. Well--it's another case of getting your tooth pulled quickly. Here goes! When he opened the dining-room door, his mother called to him from her bedroom:
gpt
Come in here, she said; and there was something in her voice that made him brace himself.
human
I'm in for it,