human
And, Richard, she said,
gpt
I have gone perhaps beyond what maiden modesty would warrant. I have told--I have shown you--how I love you. But you will not, I think, misunderstand or blame me; first, because I am, as you know, a wild, untutored girl, accustomed to speak frankly whatever thought, or fancy, or feeling, crosses my brain or heart; and, secondly, because this is an occasion in which concealment would be wrong to me and wrong to you--when I must tell you how I love you in order that you may see how terrible is the sacrifice of that love to duty.
human
I do not misunderstand you, dear Bessy, I answered;
gpt
I will try to be more calm, more reasonable. You have said that I shall be the arbiter. When will you give me the explanations which will enable me to be so rightly? At present I can conceive no cause, I can imagine no possible motive, why you should not be my wife; and I fondly hope and trust that when all is explained, I can remove every doubt and scruple from your mind. But I promise you, my beloved, that if I see a reasonable motive, a just and righteous cause, I will endeavour by no sophistry to persuade you against your better judgment. I will endeavour to think for Bessy Davenport as I would think for myself, were my mind free and without passion. But, dearest Bessy, make the time short; tell me when you will give the whole explanation.
human
Oh, Richard, she answered, with a mournful shake of the head,
gpt
I would fain give time for both you and myself to think deliberately. I may be wrong in the view I take at present, and I am certain you would be wrong if you were to decide now. Well, well, within three months, I will write to you the whole, and enclose you the old letter which I received two nights ago. After you know all, you shall wait a fortnight, a full fortnight, before you decide, and then your decision shall be final. I will say not one word against it; you shall command, and I will obey.
human
My commands shall not be very hard, Bessy, I answered;
gpt
Oh, thank you, thank you, Richard, she answered;
human
I will, indeed, I replied.
gpt
But now tell me, beloved, how are we to pass the intermediate time?
human
I have determined, she said,
gpt
She paused for a moment, and then added,--
human
But you will let me see you from time to time, will you not, Richard? There can be no harm in that. We are not parted by inclination, but by fate.
gpt
Assuredly, I will come to see you often, I answered;
human
Now let us go back, Richard. It is growing quite dark, and they will send somebody to see after us.