human
What do you think? Katrine Loebeg has left her situation, and has gone to attend upon Miser Pretzel.
gpt
That is bad news indeed,
human
The child! cried Anna, in deep distress.
gpt
The foolish, foolish child! She will come quickly now to shame and ruin! Will no one stretch out a helping hand to her--will no one save her?
human
How can it be done? I asked.
gpt
Heaven knows I would sacrifice much to save the poor girl, but you remember how she received us when we spoke to her before. She is her own mistress, and can do as she pleases; no person has any legal authority over her. Were I her grandfather, or her uncle, or even a distant relative of her dead mother, I might have some right to interfere--although it would be useless, Anna, quite useless; of that I am certain. She does not see Gideon Wolf with our eyes, and it is he, no doubt, who has been instrumental in getting her into Miser Pretzel's house.
human
Master Fink, said Anna,
gpt
I don't want all the town to bless me, I said, somewhat testily I must own.
human
I am content to do what is right for right's sake, and for the sake of my conscience. In Heaven's Dame enlighten me how it is in my power to save Katrine!
gpt
There is no one in the world who is so thoroughly acquainted as yourself with the vile nature of that scorpion, Gideon Wolf. To stand tamely by, and allow him to drag the innocent soul of Katrine down to perdition would be a heavy sin. Oh, Master Fink, I think there is a way. You have no wife, you have no child--
human
Ah, I exclaimed,
gpt
I see! you wish me to adopt Katrine as my child. Thank you, Anna, thank you; you have a kind heart. It is a noble idea. I will do it--yes, Anna, I will do it, if Katrine will consent. I will be a father unto her, and as God is my judge I will deal tenderly and lovingly by her. It will be a beautiful thing to have a fresh young being like her in the house. And in course of time she shall forget that rascal, Gideon Wolf, and set her heart upon some fine honest young fellow who will make her happy.
human
Master Fink, said Anna, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand,
gpt
I bless the day I first took service with you.
human
Never mind that, never mind that, I cried;
gpt
And then, all in a moment, my spirits fell.
human
Are you sure, Anna, that she lives with Miser Pretzel?
gpt
Yes, there is no doubt of it, and we must go to his house, and speak to her there.
human
Speak to her in Pretzel's house! Do you forget the enmity he bears to me? He will not admit us; he will laugh at us, and shut the door in our faces. He has been waiting for years to spite me; old as he is he would walk a hundred miles to do me an injury.
gpt
We go to see Katrine, not to see him, Master Fink. There is nothing to be afraid of; he will not eat us, and if he won't admit us into the house we will call Katrine out, and speak to her in the streets. Because it is unpleasant to do, you must not shrink from it.
human
I will not, I said, firmly.
gpt
Come, Anna, you shall accompany me. What is right to be done should be done without delay.