human
You needn't be afraid of shaming me, the girl went on.
gpt
I felt that you understood everything, so we can talk now, when I've come back a little to myself. I didn't mind your seeing, then, because everything seemed unimportant except--_just him_, and my being there with him. And I don't mind even now, because there's so much that's the same in my life and yours. I feel (as I felt before I was carried out of myself) that we've drifted together at a time when we can help each other. You can forgive me for being selfish and thoughtless to you, because I was at a great moment of my life, and you realized it. Didn't you?
human
Yes,
gpt
I've always adored him. He was the one I meant, of course, when I told you about caring for somebody, Sanda confessed.
human
You see, my father has never let me love him, in a personal sort of way. He has held me off, though I hope it's going to be different when he sees me. Sir Knight (that's what I always called Richard, ever since I was small) was very kind whenever he had time. He didn't mind my worshipping him. He never wrote, because he was too busy; but when he came home from his wonderful expeditions and adventures, he generally had some present for me. I've always followed him as far as I could, through the newspapers, and--I _knew_ he was somewhere in Algeria now. I'm afraid--that's partly what made my wish to come so--terribly, irresistibly strong. I didn't quite realize that, until I saw him. Honestly, I thought it was because I couldn't live with my aunts any longer, and because I wanted so much to win my father before it was too late. But meeting Richard here, unexpectedly, when I imagined him somewhere in the South, showed me--the truth about myself. I'd been so anxious for you to come back, and to hear all that had happened to you; but meeting him put everything else out of my head!
gpt
It was natural, said Max.
human
You wouldn't be human if it hadn't.
gpt
I think it was _in_human. For when I remembered--other things, I didn't seem to care. I was--_glad_ when you said you had business and couldn't stay to tea. I hoped you'd forget that you'd asked me to dinner, because I wanted so much to have it with Sir Knight--with Richard. I thought he'd be sure to invite me, and take me to the train afterward. I was going to apologize to you as well as I could; but even if you'd been hurt, I was ready to sacrifice you for him.
human
Please don't punish yourself by confessing to me, Max broke in.
gpt
Indeed it's not necessary. I----
human
I'm not doing it to punish myself, Sanda exclaimed.
gpt
I've _been_ punished--oh, sickeningly punished!--already. I'm confessing to you because--I want our friendship to go on as if I hadn't done anything ungrateful and cruel to spoil it. I'm trying to atone.
human
You've done that a thousand times over,