human
Well, by gosh, you certainly have done an almighty lot of calculating.
gpt
And why shouldn't I? She is my child. Is it likely that I would give myself the worst of everything without seeing to it that she gets the best of everything? No, my friend; you must not underrate my intelligence. I will speak plainly to you,--but in confidence. This is between you and me. There is no love lost between Kenneth Gwynne and me. He hates me and always will, no matter how hard he may try to overcome it. In a different way I hate him. We must not be where we can see each other. I am sorely afraid that the tender love he now has for Viola would fail to outlast the hatred he feels toward me. I leave you to imagine what that would mean to her. He has it in his power to give her a place among his people. He can force them to honour and respect her, and her children will be THEIR children. Do you see? Need I say more?
human
You need say nothing more. I understand what you want, Mrs. Gwyn,--and I must say that you are in a sense justified. What is to become of young Gwynne's property here in this county?
gpt
I think I can be trusted to look after it satisfactorily, she said quietly;
human
I thought maybe you had some notion of buying him out.
gpt
He would not sell to me. His farm is being properly handled by the present tenant. His lots here in town cannot run away. The time will come when they will be very valuable, or I am no prophetess. There is nothing to keep him here, Andrew, and his interests and my daughter's will be as carefully looked after as my own.
human
We will be sorry to lose him as a citizen.
gpt
If you are ready, we will step over to the Free Press office,
human
This will be a terrible shock to your daughter,
gpt
She will survive it,
human
Will you accept a bit of advice from me?
gpt
I am not above listening to it,
human
My advice is to postpone this action until you are sure of one thing.
gpt
And what may that be?
human
Kenneth Gwynne's safe return from this foray against the Indians. He may not come back alive.
gpt
He will come back alive, said she, in a cool, matter-of-fact tone.
human
It is so ordained. I know. Come, we are wasting time. I have much to do between now and nightfall. Bright and early to-morrow morning my daughter and I are leaving town.
gpt
Leaving town?
human
I am taking her out in the country,--to the farm. If I can prevent it she shall never put foot in this town again. You know Phineas Striker? An honest, loyal man, with a wife as good as gold. When Kenneth Gwynne marches back to town again he will find me here to greet him. I will tell him where to find Viola. Out at Striker's farm, my friend, she will be waiting for him to come and claim his own.
gpt
He will even find that her wedding gown is quite as much to his fancy as it was the day he met her.