human
There is no clue, Dan?
gpt
No clue, mother, not the slightest. Nancy seems to have vanished as completely as if she had dissolved into air. As you know, the house has been thoroughly searched; the servants carefully questioned; and enquiries have been made at every conceivable place in Monday Port. I have been to the House on the Dunes, and to the farmhouses on every road round about. No one has seen or heard of her. She has taken French leave, but for what reason I can't imagine.
human
Nancy has not been happy for some time, Dan,
gpt
No, I have fancied that she was not. But why? Do you suppose she has left us deliberately? or--
human
Or what?
gpt
Or she has been forced away against her will.
human
Against her will! the old lady exclaimed.
gpt
Who could have forced her? and for what reason? Do you think she may have been kidnapped?
human
Either kidnapped or decoyed away.
gpt
But who could have designs upon Nancy? It is more reasonable to suppose that she left of her own accord. I confess that would not altogether surprise me.
human
I don't know, mother, but I have my fears and suspicions. There may be some one who has a deep interest in Nancy, who for reasons of his own, which I don't yet understand, may wish to control her movements. I wish you would tell me all you know of Nancy's origin. You have never told me;--you have never told her, I fancy,--who she really is and how you came to adopt her as your own child. I have never been curious to know, in fact I have not wanted to know, for she has always been to me precisely what a sister of my own blood would be. But now, it may help me to understand certain strange things that have happened in the last few days.
gpt
No, I have never spoken to you or to Nancy of her early history, Dan; simply because, to all intent she has been our own. I have always wished that she should feel absolutely one with us; and I think she always has, until this winter. But of late I have noticed her discontent, her growing restlessness, and I have sometimes wondered if she could be brooding over the mystery of her early years. But she has never asked me a direct question; and I have kept silent.
human
I think now, mother, Dan replied,
gpt
I have no reason, my dear, to keep anything from you. I should have told you years ago, if you had asked me. There is not much to tell. You may remember when you were a boy about six or seven years old, a French exile came to the Inn, a military gentleman, who had left France in consequence of the fall of the great Napoleon.
human
Yes, I remember him distinctly, said Dan.
gpt
He used to tell stories to Tom and me of his adventures in the wars. Tom was speaking of him only the other day.
human
Well, continued Mrs. Frost,
gpt
The Oak Parlour!