human
Love is a wonderful thing, Kenneth, she said slowly.
gpt
It is the most powerful force in all the world. It overcomes reason, it crushes the conscience, it makes strong men weak and weak men strong. For love a woman will give her honour, for love a man will barter his chance for eternal salvation. It overlooks faults, it condones crime, it rises above every obstacle that the human mind can put before it. It knows no fear, it has no religion, it serves no God. You love my girl, Kenneth. She is the daughter of the woman you despise, the daughter of one you call evil. Is your love for her great enough,--or will it ever be great enough,--to overcome these obstacles? In plain words, would you take her unto yourself as your wife, to love and cherish and honour,--mind you, HONOUR,--to the end of your days on earth?
human
She has done nothing dishonourable,
gpt
Was her mother any worse than my father? Has the sin been visited upon one of us and not upon the other?
human
Then, you WOULD be willing to take Viola as your wife?
gpt
Oh, what is the use of talking about the impossible? he exclaimed.
human
I have confessed that I love her,--yes, in spite of everything,--and you--
gpt
You have not answered my question.
human
No, I have not, he said deliberately,--
gpt
She is not your sister. She has not one drop of Gwynne blood in her veins.
human
But who is going to tell her that, may I ask, Rachel Carter?
gpt
I will put it this way, Kenneth, she said.
human
Would you ask her to be your wife if the time should ever come when she knows the truth?
gpt
Will you be kind enough to tell me what your object is in asking me these questions?
human
I want to know whether you are truly in love with her,
gpt
And if I say that I could not ask her to marry me, would that prove anything to you?
human
Yes. It would prove two things. It would prove that you do not love her with all your heart and soul, and it would prove that you are the same kind of man that your father was before you.
gpt
What do you mean?
human
When you have answered my question, I will answer yours, Kenneth.
gpt
Well, he began, setting his jaw,
human
I DO love her enough to ask her to be my wife. But I would ask her as Owen Carter's daughter. And, he added, half closing his eyes as with pain,