human
I don't know where mother is, she said, without other greeting.
gpt
She is not in the house, Kenny. I am worried almost sick.
human
Oh, blast the luck! She must have--Say, are you sure she's gone?
gpt
I can't find her anywhere, cried she, in distress.
human
I've been out to the barn and--Why, what ails you, Kenneth?
gpt
She got away without my knowing it. But maybe it's not too late. I can catch up with them if I hurry. Hey, Zachariah!
human
Then, you know where she is? cried the girl, grasping his arm as he turned to rush away.
gpt
For goodness' sake, tell me! Where has she gone?
human
Why, don't you--But of course you don't! he exclaimed.
gpt
You poor girl! You must be almost beside yourself,--and here I go making matters worse by--
human
Where is she? she broke in, all the colour going from her face as she shook his arm impatiently.
gpt
Come in the house, he said gently, consolingly.
human
I'll tell you all I know. There's nothing to be worried about. She will be home, safe and sound, almost before you know it. I will explain while Zachariah is saddling Brandy Boy. He laid his hand upon her shoulder.
gpt
Come along,--dear.
human
If anything happens to her and you could have--
gpt
I had no idea she would start at such an unearthly hour. I had made up my mind to go with her, whether or not. Didn't she tell you she had made an affidavit against Martin Hawk?
human
No. The sheriff was up here last night, just after supper, but,--Oh, Kenny, what is it all about?
gpt
Have you any idea at all what time she left the house?
human
I heard her go down the stairs. It was pitch dark, but the clock struck one quite a long time afterward. I did not think anything about it then, because she often gets up in the middle of the night and goes down to sit in the kitchen. Ever since father died. I must have gone to sleep again because I did not hear her come back upstairs. I awoke just at daybreak and got up to see if she needed me. She--she had not gone to bed at all, Kenny.--and I couldn't find her anywhere. Then I thought that Martin Hawk and the others had come and taken her away by mistake, thinking it was me in the darkness.
gpt
Sit down, Viola. I'll light the fire. It's quite chilly and you are shaking like a--
human
I want to know where she has gone,
gpt
There's no use of your trying to catch up with her. Thank you for lighting the fire, Kenny. If you don't mind, I will sit here awhile, and I may go to sleep in this comfortable chair of yours. Goodness, I must look awful. My hair--
human
Don't touch it! It is beautiful as it is. I wish girls would always wear their hair in braids like that.