Page 116 of Ruby (Landry 1)

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eager to make more trips to the bayou because of my

growing relationship with Gabrielle. I didn't realize

then why he was encouraging it. I should have known

something when he didn't appear upset the day I told

him she was pregnant with my child."

"He went behind your back and made a deal

with Grandpere Jack," I said.

"Yes, I didn't want such a thing to happen. I had

already made plans to provide for Gabrielle and the

child, and she was happy about it, but my father was

obsessed with this idea, crazed by it."

He took a deep breath before continuing. "He even went so far as to tell Daphne

everything,"

"What did you do?" I asked.

"I didn't deny it. I confessed everything." "Was she terribly upset?"

"She was upset, but Daphne is a woman of

character, she's as they say, a very classy dame," he

added with a smile. "She told me she wanted to bring

up my child as her own, do what my father had asked.

He had made her some promises, you see. But there

was still Gabrielle to deal with, her feelings and

desires to consider. I told Daphne what Gabrielle

wanted and that despite the deal my father was

making with your grandfather, Gabrielle would

object."

"Grandmere Catherine told me how upset my

mother was, but I never could understand why she let

Grandpere Jack do it, why she gave up Gisselle." "It wasn't Grandpere Jack who got her to go

along. In the end," he said, "it was Daphne." He

paused and turned to me. "I can see from the

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