human
Mrs. Upjohn, he was saying,--
gpt
--Sally chuckled suddenly, in spite of her seriousness, but stopped as suddenly--
human
he interrupted himself to say emphatically,
gpt
he nodded in reply to a questioning look of Sally's,
human
Patty is a patient. There's no doubt about that, I'm afraid. And Mrs. Upjohn is a suspicious character. There is no doubt about that either. Oh, yes, well-meaning, perhaps; even probably. But she should not have been allowed to see Patty. I consider Patty's condition--er--ticklish. Distinctly ticklish.
gpt
What do you mean? How is her condition ticklish?
human
Mentally,
gpt
I hope not,
human
Well, we won't think of it. We are doing our best. But Mrs. Upjohn succeeded in upsetting her completely in a very few minutes. I was afraid, at first, that the mischief was done. Oh, it wasn't. She came back all right. I couldn't make her tell me what Mrs. Upjohn had said, but, picking up a thread here and there, I judged that Charlie had been misbehaving himself somehow. I couldn't find out just how. I am sorry to add another log to your load, Sally, but I thought that you would be glad to be told of what seems to be common report. I know that I would.
gpt
I am, she said.
human
I'm glad and sorry, too. But I'm greatly obliged to you. She was silent for some little time, looking out and thinking hard.
gpt
Do you know what kind of misbehavior it is? she asked.
human
I'm pretty familiar with several kinds, she added, with a hard little laugh.
gpt
Don't be afraid to tell me the truth if you know it.
human
I don't know it. It seems to be connected with Patty's money.
gpt
I have been afraid of it, but it has been impossible to get hold of anything definite, replied Sally gravely.
human
Even you aren't telling me anything definite, although I believe you would if you knew it.
gpt
You may be sure I would, Sally.
human
It is really curious how hard it is for people to find out what concerns them most nearly, she continued.
gpt
Everybody is most considerate of one's feelings. She gave another hard little laugh.
human
I've not much doubt that almost everybody in town, excepting Charlie's relatives and near friends,--if he has any,--has known of this for a long time. It would have been the part of kindness to tell me.
gpt
If it had been more than mere rumor, Doctor Beatty agreed,
human
he went on with a quiet smile,
gpt
Poor Patty! she murmured.
human
It's hard on her. If she has lost money in that way I must pay her back.
gpt
I believe, she said, turning to him,
human
she added, smiling gravely,