human
Well, my dear! I feel uncommonly ashamed of myself, taking Constance's chair in this manner. Though there's a great consolation in thinking she doesn't need it any longer. Settling himself more comfortably in the chair, and laying his stick across his knees:
gpt
Margaret, I begin to be very happy about Constance. I haven't had so light a heart for many a long day. The last month has made a wonderful change in her. She is almost like her old self again.
human
Yes, it seems almost too good to be true. I don't know quite what to make of it. Sometimes, I almost fear for her mind. I'm sure that half the time she forgets that Mr. Bartlett isn't that wretch, and I can see her awake with a start to the reality every little while, and then wilfully lull her consciousness to sleep again. He's terribly like. I can hardly keep from crying out at times; and yesterday I did give way: I was _so_ ashamed, and he looked so _hurt_. I see Constance restrain herself often, and I dare say there are times that we don't know of when she doesn't.
gpt
Well, all that may be. But it's a thing that will right itself in time. We must do our best not to worry him. This painter is a fine fellow, my dear. I took a great fancy to him at the beginning. I liked him from the moment I saw him.
human
James! You were going to strike him with your cane.
gpt
That was before I saw _him_. I was going to strike the other one. But that's neither here nor there. We must be careful not to hurt his feelings; that's all. We've got our Constance back again, Margaret. Impossible as it seems, we have got her back by his help. Isn't it wonderful to see that killing weight lifted from her young life? It's like a miracle.
human
It isn't lifted _all_ the time, James.
gpt
No matter--no matter. It isn't crushing her all the time either. I'm glad for what relief there is, and I feel that all is going well. Do you hear that step, Margaret? Listen! That's _like_ the old bounding tread of our little girl. Where is the leaden-footed phantom that used to drag along that hall? Is she coming this way?
human
No, she is going to our rooms. Has Mr. Bartlett been here yet?
gpt
Not yet. He was to come when he got back from his sketching. _What_ a good fellow, to take so much trouble for Constance's amusement! It was uncommonly kind of Mr. Bartlett, Margaret, offering to give her these lessons.
human
Yes, it worries me.
gpt
Why in the world should it worry you, Margaret?
human
You can't offer him any compensation for his instructions.
gpt
Of course not. That would be offensive. Well?
human
Well, James, can't you see how it complicates everything? He is conferring another obligation. He might almost think we tried to throw them together.
gpt
He had better not! Why, Margaret, he's a gentleman! He can't think that.
human
No, I suppose not. I suppose it's our trouble that has made me suspicious of every one.
gpt
You needn't trouble yourself with the room, Margaret; Mary told me that she and the landlady had put it in order.
human
That's just why I need. After a moment:
gpt
Are you going to be here, James?
human
Yes, I thought I should stay. It's a cheerful place to read and smoke. It won't disturb them, will it?
gpt
Oh, no! It's quite necessary some one should stay. I'm very glad you can, for I've got a few little things to do.
human
All right. I'll stay and do the dragon, or whatever it is. But I wish you hadn't put it in that light, Margaret. I was proposing to enjoy myself.
gpt
Enjoy yourself, James? With such a terribly perplexing affair before you!
human
I don't see anything perplexing about it. It's perfectly simple, to my mind. Mr. Bartlett kindly proposes to give Constance a few lessons in drawing,--or painting; I don't know which it is. That's the beginning and the end of it.
gpt
Yes, that's the _beginning_.
human
Well?
gpt
Nothing. Are you quite comfortable, here? Have you got everything you wish?
human
Here are my cigars, and--yes, here are the papers. Yes, I'm all right. But what do you mean by 'nothing'? What--Ah, here's Mr. Bartlett! As Bartlett comes into the room, the General, since he cannot conveniently rise, makes a demonstration of welcome with his hands. Bartlett has his colour-box under his arm, and a canvas in his hand.
gpt
You've been improving the shining hour, I see. What have you there?
human
Nothing worth looking at. He goes and faces it against the wall.
gpt
Have I kept Miss Wyatt waiting?
human
It's too bad you should waste your time upon her, Mr. Bartlett. I don't know why we let you.
gpt
You can't help yourself, Mrs. Wyatt. The wrong is owing to circumstances beyond your control. If I have any virtue it is a particularly offensive form of stubbornness. Besides, --more seriously,--
human
I feel myself honoured to do it--to contribute anything to Miss Wyatt's--ah--ah--In short, if she can stand it _I_ can.
gpt
It's immensely kind of you. By the way, you won't mind my staying here, will you, to read my papers, while you're at work? Because if you do, I can clear out at once. Mrs. Wyatt, with mute but lively tokens of dismay, attends the General's further remarks:
human
I don't want to stay here and be a bore and a nuisance, you know.
gpt
Not in the least. Some woman been putting this room in order, hasn't there?
human
Three.
gpt
I thought so. He continues to disarrange all the preparations for his work. His operations bring him in the vicinity of General Wyatt, upon whose box of cigars his eye falls.
human
Oh, I say, General! Smoking?
gpt
Certainly. Why not?
human
Well, I don't know. I thought perhaps--I supposed--I imagined somehow from something she said, or that happened--it was offensive to Miss Wyatt.
gpt
Why, bless your heart, man, she minds it no more than I do!
human
You don't say so! Why, I haven't smoked any for the last two weeks, because--because-- And I'm almost dead for a pipe!
gpt
Why, poor fellow! Why, here! Take a cigar!
human
Oh, no, no! I said a _pipe_. He rushes to an old studio jacket which the landlady has hung for him on the back of a chair; he dives in one pocket and gets out a pipe, plunges into another and extracts a pouch of tobacco. He softly groans and murmurs with impatience while he makes these explorations. Upon their success:
gpt
So lucky Mrs. Ransom brought down that coat. I couldn't have lived to get up-stairs after it!