human
In number six, I think, Annabel. She used to, anyway.
gpt
Thank you. I want to see her a minute.
human
May I speak with you a minute?
gpt
For a minute, she said.
human
I'm busy.
gpt
It will only take a minute, I fancy. When do you intend to acknowledge the book you hid in Blue Bonnet Ashe's drawer while she was away?
human
I don't know what you mean, she said slowly.
gpt
What are you talking about?
human
You know what I'm talking about, all right. Do you remember the day two weeks ago when we were out walking and stopped in that queer little book shop? One of the girls wanted to get her Quatre-vingt-treize. You went to another part of the shop--alone. I came up behind you--something had attracted my attention--you didn't see me. I heard you ask for the book--I will not mention the name. I saw the clerk hand it to you--give you your change. Saw the whole transaction with my own eyes! This is no hearsay.
gpt
I haven't words to express my opinion of you, Joy Cross, Annabel went on.
human
A girl who would put another girl in the position you have put Blue Bonnet Ashe--as honest and innocent a girl as ever drew the breath of life. You're a coward--a miserable--
gpt
Wait, she said,
human
I didn't mean to hurt Blue Bonnet Ashe--please believe that, Annabel. It was all a mistake--an accident. I thought it would right itself, and I kept still. I did buy the book--I was reading it in my room; some one knocked at the door--I was sitting by Blue Bonnet's bureau--I reached over and laid it in her drawer--just until I opened the door. I meant to take it right out again--but--it was Miss Martin. She was inspecting drawers--she found the book--she--I--oh, can't you see how it was--how it all happened--so quickly? I couldn't think of anything but the disgrace. I wanted to save myself. I wouldn't have cared so much if I hadn't been a Senior. I thought it might keep me from graduating--from some of the honors that I have fought for. I never dreamed it would go so far. I thought--oh, I don't know what I thought--why I did it. I suppose I'm ruined utterly.