"My father has been so unwell to-day; and he has gone up the gorge."
"Whew! Nice afternoon!"
Jem held two cold hands to the fire, and examined Jean with kind eyes. He had rarely seen her so troubled. She grew whiter as she told him what had passed, and sought his face sorrowfully for an opinion.
"What do you think? Was I right? Could I do anything else?"
"You had hardly a right to decide for your father. I wish he had not felt obliged to go."
"He promised, you know! Not that that makes much difference. He would have gone anyhow. But if it should make him worse—Jem, shall I have done wrongly?"
"Questions of right and wrong don't hinge upon consequences."
"You would have done the same in my place?"
"Can't be sure. I might not have had the courage."
"I almost thought I hadn't the courage not to call him."