human
Father dear, cried Yvonne impulsively,
gpt
I have made up my mind. You are powerless; but I can act. I will not have you harrowed and wounded at every turn. You and I, together with Lorry and Peridot, saved my mother's life. She must repay us by the only means she possesses,--by conferring the freedom of our own small Paradise.
human
Yvonne, he sighed,
gpt
No matter what happens, that is the last thing I should dream of doing,
human
But why? It is the one thing that a girl of your age should have mainly in mind. Even in this small community, you might find a most excellent and chivalric husband----
gpt
Meaning Lorry,
human
Well--yes.
gpt
But--I don't care for Lorry--in that way.
human
Has he ever asked you?
gpt
No. Once or twice, perhaps, he has hinted that Barkis was willing. The last time was no later than the day of the wreck.
human
And what did you say?
gpt
I was nearly angry with him.
human
You would prefer him, I suppose, to a man of the Rupert Fosdyke type?
gpt
I loathe the sight of Rupert Fosdyke!
human
How has he offended you?
gpt
In no way that I can put into words. He is very courteous, and quite a clever talker, and he tries to make every woman he meets believe that she is the one creature on earth he adores.
human
Then poor Lorry, with his chummy slang and abounding good conceit with himself and all the world,--excepting this Mr. Raymond, I take it,--compares but indifferently with the smooth-spoken Rupert?
gpt
Lorry! He's a man! He's worth a million Fosdykes!
human
Still, you have given me no specific reason for your dislike of Fosdyke,
gpt
You read my mind too plainly, Dad, she protested, smiling vexedly.
human
I didn't mean to tell you, hoping matters would adjust themselves; as, indeed, they may do now, if these invaders withdraw. But Madeleine has quite lost her head over him.
gpt
Madeleine Demoret!