human
I am very sorry, she said.
gpt
I love you so much. What is it, darlingest father?
human
Let me hold your hand, he said.
gpt
It will be easier for me to tell you something then.
human
At the moment, little Sibyl, when the cablegram which told me of your accident was put into my hand, I had just done something so wicked, so terrible, that God Himself, God Almighty, rose up and smote me.
gpt
I don't understand,
human
I will explain. The cablegram told me that you were ill, very ill. I wanted to undo what I had done, but it was too late. I hurried back to you. God came with me on board the ship. God came, and He was angry; I had a terrible time.
gpt
Still I do not understand,
human
Let me speak, my dear girl. I reached home, and I saw you, and then a temptation came to me. I wanted us both, you and I, to be happy together for two days. I knew that at the end of that time I must open your eyes.
gpt
Oh, we were happy!
human
Yes, for those two days we had peace, and we were, as you say, happy. I put away from me the thought of that which was before me, but I knew that it must come. It has come, Sibyl. The peace has been changed to storm; and now, little girl, I am in the midst of the tempest; the agony I feel in having to tell you this no words can explain.
gpt
I wish you would try and 'splain, all the same,
human
I will, I must; it is wrong of me to torture you.
gpt
It's only 'cos of you yourself,
human
Listen, my darling. You have often given thoughts to the Lombard Deeps Mine?
gpt
Oh, yes. She raised herself a little on her pillow, and tried to speak more cheerfully.
human
I have thought of it, the mine full, full of gold, and all the people so happy!
gpt
Any special people, dearest?
human
So many, she replied.
gpt
I told Lord Grayleigh, and he put their names in his note-book. There's Mr. and Mrs. Holman, the people who keep the toy-shop; she has a hundred pounds, and she wants to buy some of the gold.
human
The old pair I saw coming to see you yesterday? Are they the Holmans? Yes, I remember they told me that was their name.
gpt
They came, father. I love 'em so much; and there's Mr. Rochester and Lady Helen, they want to marry. It's a secret, but you may know. And nurse, she wants some of the gold, 'cos her eyes ache, and you sent a cablegram, father, and said the gold was there; it's all right.
human
No, Sibyl, it is all wrong; the gold is not in the mine.
gpt
But you sent a cablegram.
human
I did.
gpt
And you said it was there.
human
I did.
gpt
You said it?
human
I did worse, said the man. He stood up, folded his arms across his chest, and looked down at her.
gpt
I did worse, and to tell you is my punishment. I not only sent that cablegram, but I wrote an account of the mine, a false account, false as my false heart was, Sibyl, and I signed it with my name, for the gold I said was in the mine was not there.
human
Why did you do it, father?
gpt
Because I was a scoundrel.
human
What's that?
gpt
A bad man.
human
No, said the child,
gpt
You thought so, darling; you were wrong. Even when I went to Queensland I was far from that. I could not bid you good-by before I went, because of the sin which I was about to commit. I committed the sin, I dropped away from honor, I let goodness go. I did that which could never, never, under any circumstances, be worth doing, for there is nothing worth evil, there is nothing worth sin, I see it now.
human
Then you are sorry?
gpt
I have repented, he cried;