human
Well! he cried, looking at Donelle with startled eyes;
gpt
Tom, I wonder if you would do—something for me? It’s a big thing, and you’d just have to trust me more than any man ever trusted a girl before.
human
I guess you know there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, Donelle,
gpt
It—it isn’t fair to you, Tom, but I’ll live my whole life making it up to you. And you know I can keep my word.
human
What is it, Donelle?
gpt
Tom, I want you to—to marry me. Marry me, now, this very afternoon!
human
My God!
gpt
It’s this way, Donelle went on slowly, as if afraid she might not make herself clear and yet fearing more that she might wrong another in her determination to reach safety.
human
It is Mr. Richard Alton. He—he isn’t Mr. Alton at all, he’s Mr. Norval. Mrs. Lindsay used to talk about him, and he came here to—to get to know me without my knowing him. And then—something happened!
gpt
What?
human
We loved each other very much, Tom. We couldn’t help it, but you see I am the kind of girl that makes it seem as if it did not matter very much, I guess. I am sure he didn’t mean to hurt me; it just happened, and neither of us could help it, Tom.
gpt
God! I’ll kill him.
human
Oh! no, Tom, you will not, you shall not hurt him. You will just help me, and then he’ll think, I—I—did not care very much, that I was playing, just as he was. I want him to think that, more than anything else, for then everything will be easy. He must not think I care!
gpt
Did he tell you that he would marry you?
human
Well, not exactly, Donelle tried to be very just, very true,
gpt
Why have you stopped thinking so?
human
Well, Tom, I will tell you. I was up in his cabin, waiting for him this morning, and his wife came. I know about her, too. When I heard her name I knew everything. And she told me many things and she showed me their baby’s picture. It is such a pretty baby—oh! Tom.
gpt
Blast his soul! he cried, then took Donelle’s face in his cold hands and looked deep into her eyes. His soul revolted at the question he was about to put, it was like giving poison to a child:
human
Donelle, tell me before God, has he done to you what—what your father did to Mam’selle Jo?