human
I am waiting, said her mother, after a moment. Her voice was steady.
gpt
It is your turn to speak, my child.
human
Mother, she began, a deep, full note in her voice,
gpt
I want you to let me sit in your lap, with your arms around me. Like when I was a little girl.
human
Is this your verdict?
gpt
Yes,
human
You do not cast me out of your heart? Remember, in the sight of man, I am an evil woman.
gpt
You are my mother. You did not desert me. You would not leave me behind. You have loved me since the day I was born. You will never be an evil woman in my eyes. Hold me in your lap, mother dear. I shall always feel safe then.
human
You say that Kenneth hates you, she said,
gpt
human
Yes, replied Rachel Carter,
gpt
I don't see why the woman must always be crucified and the man allowed to go his way--
human
It is no use, Viola, interrupted Rachel, rising. Her face had hardened again.
gpt
We cannot change the ways of the world. She crossed the room, but stopped with her hand on the door-latch. Turning to her daughter, she said:
human
Whatever Kenneth may think of me, he has the greatest respect and admiration for you. He bears no grudge against Minda Carter. On the contrary, he has shown that he would lay down his life for you. You must bear no grudge against him. You and he are children who have walked in darkness for twenty years, but now you have come to a place where there is light. See to it, Viola, that you are as fair to him as you would have him be to you. You stand on common ground with the light of understanding all about you. Do not turn your backs upon each other. Face one another. It is the only way.
gpt
I am not ashamed to look Kenneth Gwynne in the face, said she, a certain crispness in her voice. Then, with a quick change to tenderness,
human
You are so tired, mother. Won't you lie down and sleep awhile?
gpt
After I have eaten something. Come downstairs. I want to hear what happened here this morning. Kenneth told me very little and you have done nothing but ask questions of me.
human
Did he tell you that he struck Barry Lapelle?
gpt
No.
human
Or how near I came to shooting him?
gpt
Merciful heaven!
human
Well, I guess Barry won't rest till he has told the whole town what we are,--and then we'll have to face something cruel, mother. But we will face it together.
gpt
It will not cost me a single friend, Viola, remarked Rachel grimly.
human
I have none to lose. But with you it will be different.
gpt
We don't have to stay in the old town, said Viola bravely.
human
The world is large. We can move on. Just as we used to before we came here to live. Always moving on, we were.
gpt
I will not move on. This is where I intend to live and die. The man I lived for is up yonder in the graveyard. I will not go away and leave him now,--not after all these years. But you, my child, you must move on. You have something else to live for. I have nothing. But I can hold my head up, even here. You will not find it so easy. You will--
human
It will be as easy for me as it will for Kenneth Gwynne, broke in the girl.
gpt
Wait and see which one of us runs away first. It won't be me.
human
He will not go away and leave you,
gpt
Now I understand why I have never been able to think of him as my brother.