She turned pale, then trembled and stammered out a question or two:
"I—go—with you? Where?"
"All the way to America."
"To America!" said Winifred, in an amazement which seemed blended with fear or emotion of some sort.
"Yes; over the great sea," I went on, "where you will see many new and beautiful things."
"But I don't want to see them!" she replied, with an energy that startled me.
"That is not a nice way to put it, dear," I said gently. "I hope, indeed, you will be a very good girl and give me as little trouble as possible. You will have to leave your wilful ways in the mountains with the sprites."
"Niall will never allow it!" she cried, with childish triumph.
"Niall has just said 'Yes.' So I give you a month to prepare," I declared firmly. I had determined to exert my authority from that moment forward, as it was necessary that I should.