human
By the way, he heard her say,
gpt
I wanted to ask you whether 'Maidenhood' has arrived?
human
What do you know about 'Maidenhood'?
gpt
But, my dear friend, do you suppose I haven't heard of your beautiful horse, by 'Blue Devil' out of 'Nina'? Now, do you see? I believe I know the grandparents, too. Anyhow, you are to be congratulated on your purchase. The English trackmen are bursting with envy. To judge by that, you ought to have an immense success.
human
But, for heaven's sake, how do you know all this?
gpt
Dear me, didn't your purchase appear in all the sporting papers?
human
Do you read those papers?
gpt
Surely. You see, here is the last number of the _Spur_, and yonder is the bound copy of the _German Sporting News_.
human
I see; but to what purpose?
gpt
Oh, I'm a sporting lady, dear master. I look upon the world of horses--is that the right expression?--with benevolent interest. I hope that isn't forbidden?
human
But you never told me a word about that before!
gpt
Oh, before, before.... That interest didn't come until later.
human
Don't look at me so, she besought him; there's nothing very remarkable about it. I just said to myself:
gpt
Well, if he doesn't want you, at least you can share his life from afar. That isn't immodest, is it? And then the race meets were the only occasions on which I could see you from afar. And whenever you yourself rode--oh, how my heart beat--fit to burst. And when you won, oh, how proud I was! I could have cried out my secret for all the world to hear. And my poor husband's arm was always black and blue. I pinched him first in my anxiety and then in my joy.
human
So your husband happily shares your enthusiasm?
gpt
Oh, at first he wasn't very willing. But then, he is so good, so good. And as I couldn't go to the races alone, why he just had to go with me! And in the end he has become as great an enthusiast as I am. We can sit together for hours and discuss the tips. And he just admires you so--almost more than I. Oh, how happy he'd be to meet you here. You mustn't refuse him that pleasure. And now you're laughing at me. Shame on you!
human
I give you my word that nothing--
gpt
Oh, but you smiled. I saw you smile.
human
Perhaps. But assuredly with no evil intention. And now you'll permit me to ask a serious question, won't you?
gpt
But surely!
human
Do you love your husband?
gpt
Why, of course I love him. You don't know him, or you wouldn't ask. How could I help it? We're like two children together. And I don't mean anything silly. We're like that in hours of grief, too. Sometimes when I look at him in his sleep--the kind, careworn forehead, the silent serious mouth--and when I think how faithfully and carefully he guides me, how his one dreaming and waking thought is for my happiness--why, then I kneel down and kiss his hands till he wakes up. Once he thought it was our little dog, and murmured 'Shoo, shoo!' Oh, how we laughed! And if you imagine that such a state of affairs can't be reconciled with my feeling for you, why, then you're quite wrong. _That_ is upon an entirely different plane.
human
And your life is happy?
gpt
Perfectly, perfectly.