human
There! she falters, out o' breath,
gpt
My God! says he, in foolish amaze,
human
I kiss whom I please and none other!
gpt
Whom you please, quoth Nick, abashed but putting a bold face on it--
human
No, I will not! John Drogue hath shown me what is my privilege in this idle game of bussing which men seem so ready to play with me, whether I will or no!... Have I hurt you, Nick?
gpt
You love Jack Drogue, said he, sulkily,
human
I love you both, said she,
gpt
You entertain a passion for Steve Watts! he muttered sullenly,
human
I am châtelaine of Summer House, said she,
gpt
Not I!--to be beaten by a besom and flouted and mocked to boot! Nenni, my pretty lass! I have had my mouthful of blows.
human
Oh. And your comrade? Is he, do you think, inclined to court me?
gpt
Jack Drogue?
human
The same.
gpt
You have bedeviled him, said Nick sulkily,
human
Bewitched him? I?
gpt
Surely. Who else, then?
human
You are jesting, Nick.
gpt
No. Like others he has taken the Caughnawaga fever. The very air you breathe is full of it. But, with a man like my comrade, it is no more than a fever. And it passes, pretty maid!--it passes.
human
Does it so?
gpt
It does. It burns out folly and leaves him the healthier.
human
Oh, then--with a gentleman like your comrade, Mr. Drogue--l'amour n'est qu'une maladie légère qui se guérira sans médecin, n'est-ce pas?
gpt
Say that in Canada and doubtless the very dicky-birds will answer wee-wee-wee! he retorted.
human
But if you mean, does John Drogue mate below his proper caste, then there's no wee-wee-wee about it; for that the Laird of Northesk will never do!
gpt
I know that,