human
You are the ghost!
gpt
Yes, I am the ghost! she acknowledged.
human
It was I who sighed and rapped and rustled my skirts so as to drive you and Sarah out of the room.
gpt
How dare you! how dare you! shouted Mrs. Vand, rising wrathfully.
human
What do you mean by entering my house, and how did you get in.
gpt
I got in by a way of which you know nothing, said Bella coolly,
human
--she gave her the old familiar name--
gpt
--she touched the panel at her back--
human
How dare you! how dare you!
gpt
Miss Huxham, you have behaved wrongly in entering the house in this secret manner, seeing that I told you how welcome you were to come openly. Both Rosamund and myself would have been glad to see you.
human
Not me! not me! vociferated Mrs. Vand, with a bright spot of angry red on each cheek.
gpt
I always hated her, and I hate her more than ever.
human
Hold your tongue, muttered her husband, and gave her plump arm such a pinch that she leaped aside with a cry of pain. Taking no notice of her distress he turned to Bella.
gpt
You should have come openly, he repeated.
human
May I ask why you made use of the secret passages?
gpt
You may, and I am quite willing to answer. I came to find the whereabouts of the jewels which belonged to my father.
human
I know of no jewels, said Vand steadily;
gpt
No, I don't, returned Mrs. Vand aggressively.
human
There was the property and the income, both of which Jabez left to me by arrangement. But jewels? I never saw any; if I had I should have got hold of them, since they are mine--if they exist, that is.
gpt
Granny here said when she spoke that they existed,
human
I don't believe in hocus-pocus and hanky-panky. Henry thought that the house was haunted, as I did myself, and he brought Granny here to lay the ghost. She has done so, since she brought you out to talk in a silly manner. You are the ghost, Bella, so I don't believe that there are any such things as spirits.
gpt
I don't believe in spirits either, said Bella promptly,
human
All what?
gpt
All about the jewels and the murder and the----
human
I don't remember saying a word, interrupted Granny, rising slowly and with a lack-lustre look in her beady eyes.
gpt
When I go into a trance I don't recall what I say. But let me go into a trance again and I'll tell you where the jewels are if you will give me a share,
human
No, said Vand, in his most peremptory tones,
gpt
Oh, sneered his wife,
human
Yes, now that I know Miss Huxham played the ghost. Granny --he turned to the old woman--
gpt
Get out of this, you lying cat! Go to the devil, your master, you vile animal!