human
Who are you? she whispered tensely.
gpt
You are not my brother. You are not the real Kenneth Gwynne! Who are you? She waited for the answer that did not come. Then as she drew farther away from him:
human
You are an impostor. You have deceived us. You have come here representing yourself to be--to be my brother,--and you are not--you are not! I know it--oh, I know it now. You are--
gpt
What is that you are saying? he cried out, fighting to pull his disordered wits together.
human
Not your brother? Impostor? What are you saying, Viola?
gpt
I want the truth, she cried.
human
Are you what you claim to be?
gpt
Of course I am, he answered, stridently.
human
I am Kenneth Gwynne. Your brother. Have you lost your senses?
gpt
Then, why-- she began huskily.
human
Why did you--Oh, Kenny, I don't know what I am saying, she murmured piteously.
gpt
I--I don't know what has come over me. Something--something--Oh, I don't know what made me feel--I mean, what made me say that to you. You are Kenneth Gwynne. You are my half-brother. You are not--
human
There, there! he interrupted, his voice shaking a little.
gpt
You were frightened. I came so near to shooting--Yes, that is it. And I was so happy, so relieved that I--I almost ate you alive,--my little sister. God, what a horrible thing it would have been if I had--fired and the bullet had--
human
But you didn't--you didn't, you see,--so what is the use of worrying about it now? She laughed jerkily.
gpt
But, my goodness, it is a good lesson for me! I'll never try to scare anybody else again as I did poor Zachariah.
human
I was after bigger game than you, he muttered.
gpt
Here are my pistols,--all primed and ready for business.
human
Ready for what business? she inquired.
gpt
What did you mean by a pack of ruffians? As he did not answer at once, she went on to explain what had actually occurred, ending with,
human
I suppose Zachariah ran in and told you that old Black Hawk and his warriors were attacking the town.
gpt
I couldn't get much out of him, he was so excited. But I was mortally afraid they had stolen a march on us, and you were already in their hands. You see, Isaac Stain was to have kept me informed and we were to have laid a trap for them. Oh, Lord! he exclaimed in sudden consternation.
human
I am letting the cat out of the bag.
gpt
Will you please tell me what you are talking about, Kenneth Gwynne?
human
Yes, I will tell you everything. I guess I was a fool not to have told you before,--you and your mother. There is a plot afoot, Viola, to abduct you. Stain got wind of it, through--well, he got wind of it. He came to me with the story. I don't suppose you will believe me,--and you will probably despise me for what I am about to say,--but the man you love and expect to marry is behind the scheme. I mean Barry Lapelle. He--
gpt
When did you hear of this? she interrupted quickly.
human
After the Revere came in?
gpt
More than a week ago. He came home on the Revere to-day. His plan is to--
human
I know. I saw him. We quarrelled. It is all over between us, Kenny. He was furious. I thought he may have--but you say you knew of this a week ago? I don't--I can't understand it. A week ago there was no heed of--of carrying me off against my will.
gpt
It is all over between you? he cried, and he could not disguise the joy in his voice.
human
You have ended it, Viola?
gpt
Yes,--it is all over, she said stiffly.
human
I am not going to marry him. I was coming over to tell you. But--go on. What is this cock-and-bull story about abducting me? Goodness, I am beginning to feel like a girl in a story-book.
gpt
It is no laughing matter, he said, a little gruffly.
human
Does it look like it when I come rushing out here with two loaded pistols and come near to shooting you? Come up to the house. We will talk it all over, and then,-- he hesitated for a moment,--