human
Ah, there you are, he cried, lifting his hat.
gpt
I was wondering whether you would come out at this--
human
Can't you see I am trying to avoid you?
gpt
I rather fancied you were, said he easily.
human
So I hurried back here to head you off. I trust you will not turn around and run the other way, now that I have almost trapped you. Because if you do, I shall catch up with you in ten jumps.
gpt
I wish you would go away, she cried.
human
I don't want to see you,--or talk to you.
gpt
Then why did you leave word for me to come to your house to see you? he challenged.
human
I suspect you know by this time,
gpt
What do you mean?
human
Well, you surely know that it was my mother who wanted to see you, and not I, she said, almost insolently.
gpt
Are you going to keep me standing here in the mud and slush all day?
human
No, indeed, he said.
gpt
Please come out.
human
Not until you go away.
gpt
Why don't you want to talk to me? What have I done?
human
You know very well what you have done, she cried, hotly.
gpt
In the first place, I don't like you. You have made it very unpleasant for my mother,--who certainly has never done you any harm. In the second place, I resent your interference in my affairs. Wait! Do not interrupt me, please. Maybe you have not exactly interfered as yet, but you are determined to do so,--for the honour of the family, I suppose. She spoke scathingly.
human
I defy you,--and mother, too. I am not a child to be--
gpt
I must interrupt you, he exclaimed.
human
I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about.
gpt
Don't lie, she cried, stamping her foot.
human
Give me credit for a little intelligence. Don't you suppose I know what mother wanted to see you about? There! I can see the guilty look in your eyes. You two have been putting your heads together, in spite of all the ill-will you bear each other, and there is no use in denying it. I am a naughty little girl and my big brother has been called in to put a stop to my foolishness. If you--What are you laughing at, Mr. Gwynne?
gpt
I am laughing at you, he replied, succinctly.
human
You ARE like a little girl in a tantrum,--all over nothing at all. Little girls in tantrums are always amusing, but not always naughty. Permit me to assure you that your mother and I have not discussed your interesting affair with Mr. Lapelle. We talked of business mat--
gpt
Then, she cried,
human
I think we had better talk the matter over quietly,--Viola, he said, affecting sternness.
gpt
We can't stand here shouting at each other. It is possible we may never have another chance to converse freely. As a matter of fact, I do not intend to thrust myself upon you or your mother. That is understood, I hope. We have nothing in common and I daresay we can go our own ways without seriously inconveniencing one another. I want you to know, however, that I went to that house over there this afternoon because I thought you wanted to consult with me about something. I was prepared to help you, or to advise you, or to do anything you wanted me to do. You were not there. I felt at first that you had played me a rather shabby trick. Your mother,--my step-mother,--got me there under false pretences, solely for the purpose of straightening out a certain matter in connection with the--well, the future. She doubtless realized that I would not have come on her invitation, so she used you as a decoy. In any event, I am now glad that I saw her and talked matters over. It does not mean that we shall ever be friendly, but we at least understand each other. For your information I will state that your mother did not refer to the affair at Striker's, nor did I. I know all about it, however. I know that you went out there to meet Lapelle. You planned to run away with him and get married. I may add that it is a matter in which I have not the slightest interest. If you want to marry him, all well and good. Do so. I shall not offer any objection as a brother or as a counsellor. If you were to ask for my honest opinion, however, I should--
human
I am not asking for it,
gpt
Thank you for the advice, she said, curtly.
human
I shall get married when and where I please,--and to whom I please, Mr. Gwynne.
gpt
In view of the fact that I am your brother, Viola, I would suggest that you call me Kenneth.
human
I have no desire to claim you as a brother, or to recognize you as one,
gpt
With all my heart I deplore the evil fate that makes you a sister of mine.
human
That--that doesn't sound very--pretty,
gpt
The God's truth, nevertheless. At any rate, so long as you have to be my sister, I rejoice in the fact that you are an extremely pretty one. It is a great relief. You might have turned out to be a scarecrow. I don't mind confessing that last night I said to myself, 'There is the most beautiful girl in all the world,' and I can't begin to tell you how shocked I was this morning when Striker informed me that you were my half-sister. He knocked a romantic dream into a cocked hat,--and--But even so, sister or no sister, Viola, you still remain beyond compare the loveliest girl I have ever seen.