human
Christine, are matters all right at last between you and Elizabeth?
gpt
Yes, John, I think that they are.
human
It is all my fault that they have ever been any other way. I was selfish, at first, in my fear lest you would ask me to postpone our wedding day; then, afterward, when I saw what a grave mistake I had made, I was too cowardly to take the blame myself and explain matters to the child as I should have done. There was a sort of tacit deceit on my part, Christine, for which I have paid very bitterly. You have made our home beautiful, but, because of my folly, there has been that one jarring note in it.
gpt
It is all right now.
human
But no thanks to me. However, I am going to have a talk with Beth yet tonight. I shall not excuse myself; what is the worst thing in my own eyes, Christine, has been my cowardice in not facing the subject fairly long ago and telling Elizabeth that you were not in the least open to censure. The fault was all mine, but I have left you to bear the blame.
gpt
You are an angel, Christine. Some women would never forgive me.
human
I know better, my dear, than to expect perfection from a poor, frail man. I am not an angel myself, as you know very well.
gpt
I don't know it at all, he retorted, bending to kiss her.
human
I hear Elizabeth in the drawing-room. I shall see her before she goes upstairs. Christine, you are perfectly happy now?
gpt
No,
human
Then tell me the trouble at once.
gpt
I am worried about Roy. He is too young to be sent away to school. I presume it answers very well with some children, but he needs me.
human
But the public schools are so far away from us, dear, and I thought that he was hardly strong enough to stand the strain of the two sessions there. I did not know that you objected to his going. You said nothing, you know, to that effect.
gpt
You seemed so very sure that it was the right thing to do, and I did not know but it might turn out better than I feared. But he dreads the going back unspeakably. I found him crying about it last night, and I cannot consent to his return.
human
Then he certainly shall not go, Mr. Newby returned promptly.
gpt
But what do you propose to do with him?
human
He can have some private lessons here at home. I shall see that he has enough to do, but not too much. Boys of that age need a mother, John.
gpt
I presume so, Mr. Newby returned ruefully.
human
So far as I can see, I have made a mess of about everything that I have attempted to manage.
gpt
Don't slander yourself; I would not let anyone else say that of you, most assuredly, and, besides, it is not true, John.
human
I am not at all sure of that, Christine.