human
Are you real glad to see me, Phil? I thought you might be lonesome by this time in the deserted city.
gpt
I was, horribly. He was still holding her hand.
human
Without a chance to talk with you or Alice, I am quite an orphan.
gpt
Ah! You or Alice!
human
Poor boy! You ought to have a guardian. What heroine of romance are you running after now?
gpt
In my new story?
human
Of course.
gpt
She isn't very well defined in my mind yet. But a lovely girl, without anything peculiar, no education to speak of, or career, fascinating in her womanhood, such as might walk out of the Bible. Don't you think that would be a novelty? But it is the most difficult to do.
human
Negative. That sort has gone out. Philip, why don't you take the heroine of the Mavick ball? There is a theme.
gpt
Did you ever see her?
human
Only at a distance. But you must know her well enough for a literary purpose. The reports of the ball give you the setting of the drama.
gpt
Did you read them?
human
I should say I did. Most amusing.
gpt
Celia, don't you think it would be an ungentlemanly thing to take a social event like that?
human
Why, you must take life as it is. Of course you would change the details. You could lay the scene in Philadelphia. Nobody would suspect you then.