"Water, perhaps?" she asked, setting the kettle on anyway. Mostly from habit. "I am endeavoring to write a final, for my class, though I hardly know what material to cover. I am completely at your disposal."
"Yah sure," he just couldn't refuse her a second time.
"I know what you mean," he chuckled. "I gotta write one too, not entirely sure what to make it yet though."
"I'm sure you know by now that Tyler's moved out and left me in charge of the house." He couldn't say gave him the house, as he was still fairly surprised and a little in disbelief over the whole thing.
"I was wonderin' if there's anything you might need? Anything in need of repair, any requests for changin' somethin'?"
"What were your previous finals like?" Miss Bennet asked. "I fear this is somewhat difficult, for me, in that I'm not certain what such finals typically cover. I wish for my students to learn. I believe that they are learning. I don't find it very trustworthy of me to ask them to prove it."
She hesitated, fussing with the teapot for a few moments, and then sat herself at her desk once more, hands in her lap.
"I ... believe I need to speak with you, on that matter," she admitted slowly. "I'm not in need of anything, no. It's quite the opposite. I'm afraid I must be terribly rude, in refusing your continued hospitality."
"I didn't realize this school had a summer term," Miss Bennet admitted. "So many things that one never thinks to inquire after."
She took a hesitant sip of her tea. "I expect you would find it to be irrational," she said, gently. "It has more to do with my upbringing. Society is so very different now. I should never have moved in, I fear. Living with a number of unmarried men ... it's shocking. It flouts convention, rather defiantly. It's quite risqué, I assure you. Living with only one ..."
She paused, unsure how to find words. "There are implications, to that sort of arrangement," she settled upon.
"I know," she said quickly. "Society is much changed from how it was, in my time. No one bats an eye at individuals living together, whether or not they have such an arrangement. I wore a completely backless dress for a wedding, and was complimented on how well the color suited me. I understand that ... the unwritten rules have changed. I simply feel ... uncomfortable, I suppose. Knowing that it could be seen in such a light, while I fully acknowledge that none others here might think upon it, that way."
She took a sip of her tea. "I must take my leave of you. I am sorry, for that. The house is charming, and I have enjoyed having a basement of my own. But I must."
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"Do you have a few minutes that I could talk to you?"
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"I know what you mean," he chuckled. "I gotta write one too, not entirely sure what to make it yet though."
"I'm sure you know by now that Tyler's moved out and left me in charge of the house." He couldn't say gave him the house, as he was still fairly surprised and a little in disbelief over the whole thing.
"I was wonderin' if there's anything you might need? Anything in need of repair, any requests for changin' somethin'?"
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She hesitated, fussing with the teapot for a few moments, and then sat herself at her desk once more, hands in her lap.
"I ... believe I need to speak with you, on that matter," she admitted slowly. "I'm not in need of anything, no. It's quite the opposite. I'm afraid I must be terribly rude, in refusing your continued hospitality."
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He took a seat opposite from her, a little surprised. "Oh. I see. Can I ask why?" Hopefully, it wasn't anything he'd done.
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She took a hesitant sip of her tea. "I expect you would find it to be irrational," she said, gently. "It has more to do with my upbringing. Society is so very different now. I should never have moved in, I fear. Living with a number of unmarried men ... it's shocking. It flouts convention, rather defiantly. It's quite risqué, I assure you. Living with only one ..."
She paused, unsure how to find words. "There are implications, to that sort of arrangement," she settled upon.
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"Er, no. I mean, I don't think people here would think that. I'm sure it would've been viewed that way some time ago, but that's not how it is now."
"And besides, I'm already kinda attached anyway, so that .... never really crossed my mind."
He sighed a bit. "But I understand if you feel you have to. I kinda wish you wouldn't, but I won't stop you if really want to go."
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She took a sip of her tea. "I must take my leave of you. I am sorry, for that. The house is charming, and I have enjoyed having a basement of my own. But I must."
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"Just let me know when you're planning to move and I'll help you with your stuff. Deal?"
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