human
Really, quite an acquisition! she drawled.
gpt
A vast improvement on the native one generally meets in these wilds. We must cultivate him, Babs! He makes our number even, so we can afford to spoil him a little bit, as it is a convenience to ourselves at the same time. It will be a godsend for him to meet some decent people.
human
As a matter of fact, he came to live in the country because he was sick of society and society people. He is not a country bumpkin, Vere, and won't be a bit grateful for your patronage. In fact, I don't believe he will come oftener than once or twice. When a man is engaged it's a bore to him to have to--
gpt
Engaged! she cried.
human
Mr Dudley! Who told you he was engaged? I don't believe a word of it. Some stupid local gossip! Who told you that nonsense?
gpt
He told me himself!
human
He did? My dear Babs, he was having a joke! No man would confide such a thing to a child like you!
gpt
You are mistaken there. He has told me heaps of things besides this, and I know the girl, and have spoken to her about it. You know her, too. Rachel Greaves, who lives at `The Clift'.
human
Rach-el Greaves! Oh! oh! cried Vere, and put her hands to her sides in peals of derisive laughter.
gpt
Oh, this is too killing! And you _believed_ it? You dear, sweet innocent! That man and--Rachel Greaves! My dear, have you seen her hair? Have you seen her hat? Could you really imagine for one moment that any man could be engaged to a creature like that?
human
I don't imagine--I know! They have been engaged for years. It will be years more before they are married, for old Mr Greaves won't give his consent. And Rachel won't leave home without it; but Mr Dudley is quite willing to wait. He says she is the best woman in the world.
gpt
Oh, I daresay! She is frumpy enough for anything; and you call that an engagement? My dear, he will no more marry her than he'll marry the moon. It's just a stupid platonic friendship, and as he has not known anything else he thinks it is love. Imagine being in love with that solemn creature! Imagine making pretty speeches and listening to her correct copy-book replies! Wait! I should think she may wait! She'll have a surprise one of these days when he meets the right girl, and bids Rachel Greaves a fond farewell!
human
He'll do nothing of the sort, I said hotly.
gpt
I do hate you, Vere, when you sneer like that, and make out that everyone is worldly and horrible, like yourself! Will Dudley is a good man, and he wants a good woman for his wife--not a doll. He'd rather have Rachel's little finger than a dozen empty-headed fashion-plates like the girls you admire. But you don't understand. Your friends are all so different that you cannot understand an honest man when you meet him.
human
Can't I? What a pity! Don't get into a rage, dear, it's so unnecessary. I'm sorry I'm so obtuse; but at least I can learn. I'll make it my business to understand Mr Dudley thoroughly during the autumn. It will be quite an occupation, replied Vere, with her head in the air and her eyes glittering at me in a nasty, horrid, cold, calculating
gpt
You-wait-and-see kind of way which made me ill! It was just like Tennyson's Lady Clara Vere de Vere, who