human
Better than the boy, eh?
gpt
It's wonderful. I should have passed her in the street with that shawl over her head.
human
It's how the workgirls wear it.
gpt
Look at my boots, Jack, cried Nessa, holding up a foot.
human
Aren't they just lovely?
gpt
Her own were just danger signals. But she'll do as she is. Now, I've told my servants you're old friends of mine, and that you'll be here till to-morrow morning. You had better not go out. A day's rest and a long night's sleep won't hurt either of you;
human
Isn't she a dear old soul? She's been mothering me up there, as if she couldn't do enough for me, and ransacked every nook and cranny to fish out these things.
gpt
She's a very shrewd old party, too.
human
And are you proud of your wife, or sister, whichever I'm going to be?
gpt
Which would you prefer?
human
Don't be silly. Don't you think this is ripping? And she's been drilling me about how to behave. I think she's wonderful.
gpt
What sort of drilling was it?
human
No end of things. How to eat; what to do; how to walk; always to have my knitting in hand; not to talk to strangers, especially women; one or two phrases I was to use; how to carry my market basket; a regular rehearsal of everything, and we're to have another this evening. Look at my hands;
gpt
I saw your nails when you put the tray on the table.
human
Yes, but look how she's managed to make them coarse. We scrubbed them all over with bath brick and then rubbed in the dirt. They're smarting, as if they were chapped. And look at my hair, plastered right down on my head. Did you ever see such a fright as I am? And then this bunchy business on my hips;
gpt
That all?
human
Not a bit of it. There was a regular lecture on the proper behaviour of working men's wives; sort of fetch and carry dogs with the tails always between their legs and never a wag except when the master condescends to give them a nod or so.
gpt
Going to do it all?
human
Sisters don't, by any means. But I know that tone of yours. You mean something. What is it?
gpt
Mrs. Fischer told me she had been giving you some hints.
human
I think I know what you mean and I'm not going to do it, Jack.
gpt
Do what?
human
Innocent! But it's no use, Jack, I won't.
gpt
Very well.
human
You don't mean that a bit. I know. You mean just the opposite. It's about my getting over the frontier alone. Isn't that it?
gpt
She said something to me about it.
human
Of course. She tried all she knew to persuade me and now she's been at you, of course. I'm ready to listen to you; but I warn you it won't make a pennorth of difference.
gpt
Very well.
human
Oh, don't 'very well' me in that tone. You don't expect me to desert you when you've done all this and got into this mess solely for me, do you?
gpt
We won't worry over it now; but there's just one point you might keep in mind. It may turn out to be necessary for my safety. What then?
human
How could that be?
gpt
We can answer that better later on, I said with a shrug.
human
But if it should be?
gpt
Did Mrs. Fischer say anything about that to you?
human
Said it might be easy enough for you to get over, but very risky for us both to try it together. Suggested that if you held out I had better get a berth at Ellendorf; but there's the question of my leave. It's nearly up, and either you or I must be able to wire explanations from Holland within the next day or two.
gpt
I never thought of that. What would happen?
human
Possibly nothing; but it doesn't help a man to play the absentee. They've a nasty term for that in the army.
gpt
You always mean such a lot when you speak in that casual tone of yours, she exclaimed.
human
Of course, if my stopping meant any sort of trouble to you, it would be different. Nothing else would make me go. And if you're only saying it to force me you're--well, it's cowardly and you ought to be ashamed to do it.
gpt
Well, think it over, and we'll see how the cat jumps. I promise you this, faithfully, I won't ask you to do it if it isn't necessary.
human
You won't ask me to go unless it's necessary for your sake, will you, Jack? It would be awful for me to feel that you were left here in danger. I know you're thinking all about me and not about yourself, and--oh, Jack, I don't believe I could bear it.
gpt
We won't worry any more about it till the time comes. I think it's splendid of you to want to stick it, but it's better to tell you;