human
Blair, she said, putting her soft hand on his arm;
gpt
I want to say something. You won't mind?
human
Mind anything _you_ say? I should think not!
gpt
It is only that I want you to know that, when the time comes, I shall think it very fine in you, with your tastes and temperament, to buckle down at the Works. I shall admire you very much then, Blair.
human
Alas, dear Mrs. Richie,
gpt
Your mother will be so proud and happy when you get to work; and I wanted you to know that I, too--
human
If there is any good in me, he said,
gpt
Then he smiled.
human
But probably there isn't any.
gpt
Nonsense! she cried, and hesitated; he saw that her leaf-brown eyes were wet.
human
You must make your life worth while, Blair. You must! It would be such a dreadful failure if you didn't do anything but enjoy yourself. He was keenly touched. He did not kiss her hand again; he just put his arm around her, as David might have done, and gave her a hug.
gpt
Mrs. Richie! I--I _will_ brace up!
human
You are a dear fellow, she said, and kissed him. Then they went back to the other three, to find Elizabeth in a gale of teasing merriment because, she said, David was so
gpt
He has sat there like a bump on a log for fifteen minutes, she complained.
human
Say something, dummy!
gpt
You girls keep on your own side; don't interrupt serious conversation, he said.
human
Blair, I want to ask you-- And in a minute the two young men were deep in their own affairs. It was amusing to see how quickly all four of them fell back into the comfortable commonplace of old friendship, the men roaring over some college reminiscences, and the two girls grumbling at being left out.
gpt
Really, said Mrs. Richie,
human
I should think none of you were more than fifteen!