human
You've only got quarter of a husband, Bella,
gpt
You were unnecessarily large before, retorted Bella.
human
You could stand reducing; besides, you are doubled to-day, which makes you equal to two quarters, and as the wife is proverbially the better half, that brings you up nearly to three quarters, so don't talk any more nonsense, sir. With good nursing I shall manage, perhaps, to make a whole of you once more.
gpt
So be it,
human
Jeff, she said, with a look of decision in her meek face which I have not often observed there,
gpt
I have made up my mind that you must go back to Turkey.
human
Indeed!
gpt
Yes, Jeff. You had no right, my dear boy, to bring that child away from her home in such a hurry.
human
But, said I remonstratively,
gpt
I don't know what you could do in those circumstances, but I know what you can do now, and that is, pack your portmanteau and prepare to take Ivanka to Venilik. The child must be at once restored to her parents. I cannot bear to think of their remaining in ignorance of her being alive. Very likely Nicholas and Bella will be persuaded to extend their honeymoon to two, or even three, months, and join you in a tour through the south of Europe, after which you will all come home strong and well to spend the winter with me.
human
Agreed, mother; your programme shall be carried out to the letter, if I can manage it.
gpt
When, asked my mother,
human
P.S. I see no reason why I should not ask you to wish me joy. I'm going to be married, my boy, to Blue-eyes! I could not forget her. I had no hope whatever of discovering her. I had settled in my mind to live and die an old bachelor, when I suddenly met her. It was in Piccadilly, when I was home, some months ago, in reference to an increase of my nominal salary from the _EI_ (which by the way came to nothing--its original figure). I entered a 'bus and ran my head against that of a lady who was coming out. I looked up to apologise, and was struck dumb. It was Blue-eyes! I assisted her to alight, and stammered, I know not what, something like--`A thousand pardons-- surely we have met--excuse me--a mistake--_Thunderer_--captain, great guns, torpedoes, and blazes--' in the midst of which she smiled, bowed, and moved on. I moved after her. I traced her (reverentially) to a house. It was that of a personal friend! I visited that friend, I became particularly intimate with that friend, I positively bored that friend until he detested me. At last I met her at the house of that friend and--but why go on? I am now `captain' of the Blue-eyes, and would not exchange places with any officer in the Royal Navy; we are to be married on my return, if I'm not shot, assassinated, or hanged in the meantime. U.B.
gpt
Ah, Jeff, said my mother,
human
I know what you're going to say, I returned, with a smile;
gpt
Well, Jeff, why don't you go on?
human
Well, I don't see why I should not tell you, mother, that there _is_ a charming little woman--the very best woman in the world--who has expressed herself willing to--you understand?
gpt
Yes, I understand.