human
Pardon me Jane, for resorting to this awkward device! I could bear the suspense no longer.
gpt
You should have chosen some less transparent device, Henry! Mr. Atkins would, sooner or later, have found an excuse for leaving us alone. It would of necessity have occurred to my aunt that we would prefer to speak of home matters by ourselves.
human
You seem very much to fear lest Doctor Stephen may gain some knowledge of our mutual relations.
gpt
I certainly hope that he will not.
human
And still it cannot be avoided.
gpt
I believe that remains alone with us, and so much the more so as your stay in B. is to be limited to a few days.
human
Certainly! It does not appear that I have especial reasons for lengthening my visit.
gpt
You will go to Paris? They are speaking of a possible war with France.
human
I do not believe in such a possibility, but should it come to that, I should naturally return to be at your side and conduct you home, if the French army overflowed the Rhine country and Germany.
gpt
Do you really think that would happen?
human
Yes! Have you any other idea?
gpt
And yet, I think we should know how to defend our Rhine!
human
repeated Alison sharply.
gpt
I thought, Miss Forest, that hitherto it had been your pride and your glory to call yourself a daughter of that country to which you belong in all things--save the first brief days of your infancy.