human
Give me the letter,
gpt
She must have gone to--to some friend's.
human
She has no friend she would stay all night with but you.
gpt
Well, you see she has written to Mr. Ferguson, so there can't be anything much the matter; he'll tell us where she is, in a minute! If he can't, I'll make Blair go and look for her. Dear, _dear_ Miss White, don't cry!
human
There has been an accident. Oh, how shall we tell David? He's coming to-morrow to talk over the wedding, and--
gpt
Miss White.
human
Mr. Ferguson! Where--? What--?
gpt
Miss White, that--creature, is never to cross my threshold again. Do you understand me? Never again. Nannie, your brother is a scoundrel. Read that. He flung the letter on the floor between them, and went back to his library. They heard the key turn in the lock. Miss White stared at the shut door blankly; Nannie picked up the letter. It was headed
human
The Mayor's Office,
gpt
Dear Uncle Robert: I married Blair Maitland this afternoon. David did not want me. E.F.
human
I--don't understand.
gpt
She and David are to be married, Nannie stammered.
human
How can she marry--anybody else? I don't understand.
gpt
Who has? What do you mean? What _are_ you talking about!
human
He has lured her away from David, the old woman wailed shrilly.
gpt
Nannie, Nannie, your brother is an evil, cruel man--a false man, a false friend. Oh, my lamb! my girl!
human
They quarrelled about something, and this is what she has done! Oh, she was mad, my lamb, my poor lamb! She was crazy; David made her angry; I don't know how. And she did this frightful thing. Oh, I always knew she would do some terrible thing when she was angry!
gpt
I feel as if I were going out of my mind! Nannie told herself, hurrying down into Mercer's black, noisy heart. When she reached the squalor of Maitland's shantytown and saw the great old house on the farther side of the street, looming up on its graded embankment, black against a smoldering red sunset, she was almost sobbing aloud, and when Harris answered her ring, she was in such tension that she burst out at him:
human
Harris! where is Mr. Blair? Do you know? Have you heard--anything? She seized the old man's arm and held on to it.
gpt
Where is Mr. Blair, Harris?
human
My laws, Miss Nannie! how do I know? Ain't he at the hotel? There's a letter come for you; it come just after you went out. Looks like it was from him. There, now, child! Don't you take on like that! I guess if Mr. Blair can write letters, there ain't much wrong with him.
gpt
Oh, Harris! she said, and began to tremble;
human
And while the old man drew her into the parlor, and scuffled about to light the gas and bring her a glass of water, she told him, brokenly--she had to tell somebody--what had happened. Harris's ejaculations were of sheer amazement, untouched by disapproval:
gpt
Mr. Blair? Married to Miss Elizabeth? My land! There! He always did git in ahead!