human
Tell me, Sir Richard, has not that miracle been done? she demanded.
gpt
Might not in great stress that thief upon the cross have been a woman? Tell me, Sir Richard, am I not clean?
human
God! Woman! What are you? he exclaimed.
gpt
Clean? By God, yes, as a lily! I wish I were half as white myself.
human
Sir Richard, did you ever love a woman?
gpt
One other, beside yourself, long ago.
human
May not we two ask that other miracle of yourself?
gpt
How do you mean? You have beaten me already.
human
Why, then, this! If I could keep my promise, I would. If I could give you myself, I would. Failing that, I may give you gratitude. Sir Richard, I would give you gratitude, did you restore this treaty as it was, for that new consideration. Come, now, these savages here are the same savages who once took that little island for you yonder. Twice they have defeated you. Do you wish a third war? You say England wishes slavery abolished. As you know, Texas is wholly lost to England. The armies of America have swept Texas from your reach for ever, even at this hour. But if you give a new state in the north to these same savages, you go so far against oppression, against slavery--you do _that_ much for the doctrine of England, and her altruism in the world. Sir Richard, never did I believe in hard bargains, and never did any great soul believe in such. I own to you that when I asked you here this afternoon I intended to wheedle from you all of Oregon north to fifty-four degrees, forty minutes. I find in you done some such miracle as in myself. Neither of us is so bad as the world has thought, as we ourselves have thought. Do then, that other miracle for me. Let us compose our quarrel, and so part friends.
gpt
How do you mean, Madam?
human
Let us divide our dispute, and stand on this treaty as you wrote it yesterday. Sir Richard, you are minister with extraordinary powers. Your government ratifies your acts without question. Your signature is binding--and there it is, writ already on this scroll. See, there are wafers there on the table before you. Take them. Patch together this treaty for me. That will be _your_ miracle, Sir Richard, and 'twill be the mending of our quarrel. Sir, I offered you my body and you would not take it. I offer you my hand. Will you have _that_, my lord? I ask this of a gentleman of England.