human
I thought you would come when I sent for you.
gpt
Of course I came.
human
I knew you would be a friend, and I knew no one else who would. You won't be afraid, Lord Nidderdale, that I shall ever think any more of all those things which he was planning? She paused a moment, but he was not ready enough to have a word to say in answer to this.
gpt
You know what has happened?
human
Your servant told us.
gpt
What are we to do? Oh, Lord Nidderdale, it is so dreadful! Poor papa! Poor papa! When I think of all that he must have suffered I wish that I could be dead too.
human
Has your mother been told?
gpt
Oh yes. She knows. No one tried to conceal anything for a moment. It was better that it should be so;--better at last. But we have no friends who would be considerate enough to try to save us from sorrow. But I think it was better. Mamma is very bad. She is always nervous and timid. Of course this has nearly killed her. What ought we to do? It is Mr. Longestaffe's house, and we were to have left it to-morrow.
human
He will not mind that now.
gpt
Where must we go? We can't go back to that big place in Grosvenor Square. Who will manage for us? Who will see the doctor and the policemen?
human
I will do that.
gpt
But there will be things that I cannot ask you to do. Why should I ask you to do anything?
human
Because we are friends.
gpt
No, she said,
human
I wish I knew what might comfort you,
gpt
How can there be any comfort? There never can be comfort again! As for comfort, when were we ever comfortable? It has been one trouble after another,--one fear after another! And now we are friendless and homeless. I suppose they will take everything that we have.
human
Your papa had a lawyer, I suppose?
gpt
I think he had ever so many,--but I do not know who they were. His own clerk, who had lived with him for over twenty years, left him yesterday. I suppose they will know something in Abchurch Lane; but now that Herr Croll has gone I am not acquainted even with the name of one of them. Mr. Miles Grendall used to be with him.
human
I do not think that he could be of much service.
gpt
Nor Lord Alfred? Lord Alfred was always with him till very lately. Nidderdale shook his head.
human
I suppose not. They only came because papa had a big house. The young lord could not but feel that he was included in the same rebuke.
gpt
Oh, what a life it has been! And now,--now it's over. As she said this it seemed that for the moment her strength failed her, for she fell backwards on the corner of the sofa. He tried to raise her, but she shook him away, burying her face in her hands. He was standing close to her, still holding her arm, when he heard a knock at the front door, which was immediately opened, as the servants were hanging about in the hall.
human
Who are they?