human
Let us, from this moment, begin over again, and talk as though the room was full of a gaping crowd; let us talk of anything but ourselves. Of Chamberlain and the fisheries; of who will run for mayor; of how that hot pickle, the French cabinet, will be formed; of whether Bishop Cleary wishes he had been tongue-tied before his imagination went without bit or curb on our girls; _anything_ but _ourselves_, Cyril, for pity sake.
gpt
No, it will not do, dear; we can never be as common acquaintances, though you charm me in any mood.
human
Very well; if that be so, you must go. Those songs, without words, by Miss Crew, with the scent of flowers, have been enough to intoxicate one; but you _know_ that since the knowledge came to me of your having a wife, that I have told you, repeatedly, our acquaintance must end unless you always remember, in our intercourse, the fact of your being bound to another. If you care to meet Mr. and Mrs. Dale, and a young lady friend, stay to luncheon, if you will not more than look at me as a friend--for I will be that.
gpt
I cannot face strangers now, and shall go, but shall write you from the west; and pray let me have a line in answer, saying you will see me on my return?
human
I see I must tell you something I had not intended, she said, nervously,
gpt
she said, gravely,
human
For heaven's sake, Elaine, don't be mad! you would be wretched, chained to a man like that; for the light has all left your dear face, even when you name him.
gpt
Beg pardon, luncheon is served, ma'am,
human
I must hasten to the dining-room, and I fear I don't look very calm. Good-bye; remember and be brave; others there are who have no more a bed of roses than yourself.
gpt
God bless you, good-bye; and I implore you, say _No_ to him. I speak, as you know, from experience,
human
Your visitor is a strikingly handsome man, Mrs. Gower, said Mr. Dale, coming from the window to the table;
gpt
He is wondrously so; and as well, what is more perilous to the hearts of our sex, he possesses a rare fascination of manner.
human
I have been telling Henry not to jump at conclusions, for, perhaps Mr. King is married,
gpt
He is, dear; but your husband is not one of those absurd beings who imagine all one's men friends to be possible suitors.
human
Far from it, Mrs. Gower: I am a believer in men and women friendships, and if, in the numerous mistakes society makes, she would obliterate her opposition to such friendships, she would have fewer matrimonial blunders to chronicle.
gpt
That is very true, Mr. Dale; I have frequently found it both mortifying, distressing and annoying to the last degree, at little social gatherings at Toronto, to find myself openly accused of flirtation, because some man friend and I dared to enjoy a _tête-à-tête_ chat on some mutual topic of interest.
human
But some women do flirt when they get a man in a corner, whether he is married or no,
gpt
Yes; but because some do, we should not all drift as we are, into no conversation between the sexes,
human
No, certainly not, said Dale;
gpt
Emerson says, 'I prize the mechanics of conversation, 'tis pulley, lever and screw;' and it is especially delightful between men and women--when it occurs.
human
Yes, as you say--when it occurs--Mr. Dale; but why is it, that the more solid tone of conversation of men is so seldom blended with the, at times more refined, even if it be more frivolous, chit-chat of my sex? Simply because of our dread of gossip?
gpt
Then there is something 'rotten in the state of Denmark,'
human
There is, dear,
gpt
Mr. Smyth is in the library, ma'am,
human
Oh, ask him if he has lunched, Thomas.
gpt
He has, ma'am.
human
I am vulgar enough to have dined, Mrs. Gower,
gpt
As you please, she said, gaily, giving her hand;
human
Your son is acting on that motto, Mrs. Dale, he said, looking from the window.
gpt
Don't stir, he is in the back way; and has evidently been wrestling with our York mud.
human
How did you come to grief, my son?
gpt
Well, papa; first, I knocked down a sparrow with my catapult; it died game, falling on a foreign bird perched on a lady's steeple bonnet. Well, she was mad, phew! called me names for killing birds. I told her not to try to be funny, when she had stuffed ones on her head-dress. Next, I saw a man down street putting a mouth on his poor horse; man! how he sawed, tore the bit nearly through his head; well, I just let another lead fly, knocking his Christy stiff into the mud; then, he out of his butcher waggon and after me. I remembered some dimes in my pocket, got 'em, threw 'em behind--he bit, and I took my chance and distanced him,
human
That was sport, said Smyth, laughingly;
gpt
Go to the kitchen, you poor little man, said Mrs. Gower;
human
Yes, you may,
gpt
Come along, son; mother will go with you.
human
You don't ask what brought me in at this hour, Mrs. Gower,
gpt
No, I have scarcely welcomed you, as yet.
human
Well, I must out with it, even if it shortens my stay; for I have only a few moments. On my way up to dinner, I literally ran against King, he was in a brown study, and I in a hurry. 'Hello!' I cried, at which he stopped, and quite abruptly (so unlike him), said, 'Tell Mrs. Gower I have heard from Mr. Cole, senr., who has been ill at Montreal. His physician, Dr. Peake, ordered him to Florida, positively forbidding him to pass the cold season at Ottawa. He is extremely anxious about Charlie, who has not written him. A newspaper, with the announcement of his marriage, being the only communication from Bayswater direct;' and here it is, he gave it me for you. From some outside source he has heard that Charlie is ill, and wishes any of us to let him know immediately at his hotel, Jacksonville, if we have, or receive any news. He admits to King, that with the exception of the girl herself, the remaining members of the family Charlie has married into are a bad lot.
gpt
Poor Charlie, he dreaded this marriage, she said, regretfully;
human
A miserable marriage would break Charlie Cole up completely,
gpt
Have you no mutual friend at London, said Dale, kindly,
human
Oh, if you would, Mr. Dale; it would be a perfect relief to all of us,
gpt
Here is the marriage insertion, said Smyth, reading:
human
What's that! Miss Crew has fainted, poor girl, cried Mrs. Gower,
gpt
I'll get it,
human
I wonder what caused it; she is delicate, I know, but I never knew her to faint before. My vinaigrette is on my dressing-table; would you get it, Henry, like a dear?
gpt
Thank you, Mr. Dale, she revives.
human
Then I shall go, Mrs. Gower; and here, I shall leave the English newspaper with you; Lil wants you all to come over this evening, then we can talk over some plan--Mr. Dale's is a good one--to elicit information as to Charlie's position; Miss Crew is to come, too. Good-bye till evening.
gpt
You had better go upstairs and lie down, Miss Crew; you look very white, and I fear you have hurt your head, poor girl,
human
I did give it a knock, but you are all too kind; if it won't make any difference, I shall lie here for a few minutes.
gpt
Very well, dear; and a glass of wine will be good for you.
human
Oh, she never touches it, Elaine, she is rabid blue ribbon,
gpt
And a very good color to wear, but when one is ill,
human
Never mind the wine, Mrs. Gower, my head aches very badly, but all I want is to rest it a little; but shall feel very uncomfortable, though, if I delay your out-going; do go now.
gpt
Yes, I suppose we must.
human
Garfield, you stay with Miss Crew, darling, while Mrs. Gower dresses, and I put on my wraps.
gpt
All O. K., mamma.
human
Miss Crew, Miss Crew; wake up.
gpt
I was not sleeping, dear.
human
But your brows were knit like this; and you looked so white. What did you faint for? I wanted you to come with us.
gpt
Oh, never mind, don't talk about me; I want you to give me your catapult.
human
Yes, I reckon I will, as young Smyth had to give his up; but I should like it if I get mad at a man for ill-treating his horse.
gpt
But a better plan would be to read the name of the owner on the vehicle, and report him.
human
Oh, that's too slow; when a fellow gets mad, he wants to let a lead fly right then,
gpt
Oh, but that is not the best way, my boy; the wise men of old waited until they were out of their temper.
human
We don't; we just go, bang! but it was pretty good of them, I reckon. What did they say right at first, though?
gpt
They said, when the evildoer was brought before them, having done them a great wrong, 'By the gods, were I _not_ in wrath with thee, I would have thee slain.'
human
Well, I guess that was noble of them; I reckon my catapult must go, he said, fondling it,
gpt
he said, putting it into the fire;