human
I--I--if you mean that, she said, nervously,
gpt
I suppose I--ought to feel flattered.
human
Of course, I mean it,--but you need not feel flattered. Truth is no form of flattery.
gpt
Who told you about Barry Lapelle and me?
human
You mean about last night's adventure?
gpt
I suppose some one has--Oh, well, it doesn't matter. I sha'n't ask you to betray the sneak who--
human
Tut, tut, my dear Viola! You must not--
gpt
Don't call me your dear Viola!
human
Well, then, my dear sister,--surely you cannot expect me to address you as Miss Gwyn?
gpt
Just plain Viola, if you must have a name for me.
human
That's better,
gpt
Whoever told you was a sneak,
human
At any rate, it was not your mother, he said.
gpt
I have Striker's permission to expose what you call his treachery. He thought it was his duty to tell me under the circumstances. And while I am about it, I may as well say that I think you conspired to take a pretty mean advantage of those good and faithful friends. You deceived them in a most outrageous manner. It wasn't very thoughtful or generous of you, Viola. You might have got them into very serious trouble with your mother,--who, I understand, holds the mortgage on their little farm and could make it extremely unpleasant for them if she felt so inclined.