human
Of course Rosa's a good sort in lots of ways, but she's getting so bossy, he declared boyishly.
gpt
She's the eldest for one thing, and then, you know, she's come in for old Aunt Margarita's fortune, and--well, she likes to run things, and I don't like it.
human
A man can't be expected to,
gpt
That's just it. She thinks a fellow's never grown up. I can stand it from mother; but Rosa won't understand that six years' difference is one thing when a fellow's a kid of ten and another when he's nearly eighteen. I shall get my commission in another month or two, you know.
human
was about four and twenty and inclined to be
gpt
Are you going to join your regiment, cousin?
human
Oh, I forgot, he exclaimed, blushing again.
gpt
But can't you remember anything?
human
You don't mind my asking that question?
gpt
Not a bit. Of course I want to hit on something that will wake up my memory.
human
Herr Hoffnung said something about your not wanting to go to the war and that you were joining the Secret Service; and Rosa was just mad about it. She loathes the idea; but there, I don't suppose she'll care so much if----
gpt
If what? Out with it, my dear fellow.
human
I don't think I'd better tell you. For one reason because you're----
gpt
Because I've lost my memory, do you mean?
human
I don't know. She's awfully funny sometimes, but I did mean that. I was going to say--you won't give me away to her if I tell you?
gpt
Of course not. Aren't we two going to be the best of chums?
human
Well, it's a rotten arrangement to tie up two kids to marry, like you two, just because of some money.
gpt
I'm not exactly a kid now, Hans, at any rate.
human
Rather not; and what she'll think when she sees you I don't know.
gpt
You mean she doesn't much fancy the family arrangement? His face told me it was a bull's-eye, but he hesitated to own it.
human
When a man's in my state it's only decent for his real friends to tell him the hang of things, Hans,
gpt
I daresay it's a lot of lies now that I've seen you.
human
You mean that your sister has heard things which have set her against me?
gpt
That you have only pretended to be out of the country all the time and then had to run away--oh, I don't know exactly what it was, but it was enough for Rosa. She always takes a different view of everything from the rest of us.
human
She wants to end things between us, you mean?
gpt
I don't know for certain, but I know what I think. She wouldn't come to the station to-night for one thing, and then, well, if I was engaged to a girl I wouldn't have her so thick with a fellow as she is with Oscar Feldmann. He's always here. But don't you breathe a word that I've told you about this.
human
Not I, my dear fellow; I'm only too grateful to you. Is he in the army then?
gpt
Not he, but he ought to be;