human
You are at a serious point in your career, he said.
gpt
You will have every opportunity of rising.
human
Yes. At seven in the morning, I suppose?
gpt
A spirit of levity--
human
I laugh that I may not weep, explained Jimmy.
gpt
Try to think what this means to a bright young man who loathes work. Be kind to me. Instruct your floor-walkers to speak gently to me at first. It may be a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done, but don't ask me to enjoy it! It's all right for you. You're the boss. Any time you want to call it a day and go off and watch a ball-game, all you have to do is to leave word that you have an urgent date to see Mr. Rockerfeller. Whereas I shall have to submerge myself in paper and only come up for air when the danger of suffocation becomes too great.
human
It beats me, he said,
gpt
Duty! said Jimmy.
human
Duty! There comes a time in the life of every man when he must choose between what is pleasant and what is right.
gpt
And that last fool-game of yours, that Lord Percy Whipple business, must have made London pretty hot for you?
human
Your explanation is less romantic than mine, but there is something in what you say.
gpt
Had it occurred to you, young man, that I am taking a chance putting a fellow like you to work in my office?
human
Have no fear. The little bit of work I shall do won't make any difference.
gpt
I've half a mind to send you straight back to London.
human
Couldn't we compromise?
gpt
How?
human
Well, haven't you some snug secretarial job you could put me into? I have an idea that I should make an ideal secretary.
gpt
My secretaries work.
human
I get you. Cancel the suggestion.
gpt
You puzzle me. And that's the truth.
human
Always speak the truth,
gpt
I'm darned if I know what to do with you. Well, you'd better come home with me now, anyway, and meet your aunt, and then we can talk things over. After all, the main thing is to keep you out of mischief.
human
You put things crudely, but no doubt you are right.
gpt
You'll live with us, of course.
human
Thank you very much. This is the right spirit.
gpt
I'll have to talk to Nesta about you. There may be something you can do.
human
I shouldn't mind being a partner,
gpt
Why don't you get work on a paper again? You used to do that well.
human
I don't think my old paper would welcome me now. They regard me rather as an entertaining news-item than a worker.
gpt
That's true. Say, why on earth did you make such a fool of yourself over on the other side? That breach-of-promise case with the barmaid!
human
Let bygones be bygones, said Jimmy.
gpt
I was more sinned against than sinning. You know how it is, uncle Pete! Mr. Pett started violently, but said nothing.
human
You try out of pure goodness of heart to scatter light and sweetness and protect the poor working-girl--like Heaven--and brighten up her lot and so on, and she turns right around and soaks it to you good! And anyway she wasn't a barmaid. She worked in a florist's shop.
gpt
I don't see that that makes any difference.
human
All the difference in the world, all the difference between the sordid and the poetical. I don't know if you have ever experienced the hypnotic intoxication of a florist's shop? Take it from me, uncle Pete, any girl can look an angel as long as she is surrounded by choice blooms. I couldn't help myself. I wasn't responsible. I only woke up when I met her outside. But all that sort of thing is different now. I am another man. Sober, steady, serious-minded!