He looked at her steadily.
"That did not enter into my plan. Why, oh why, did Uncle Nick have to wreck the whole thing by involving you? I wouldn't take you if you would go. You married me for what I could give you socially. A lot I could give you out there in the wilderness."
"Nevertheless, I shall go with you."
"What! Why, by your own confession you would starve for people in a wilderness."
"Do you want this fortune?"
"More than I ever wanted anything—except one—in my life."
Jerry whitened at his amendment.
"I suppose that one thing was Felice. In spite of that I shall go with you. I shall fulfil my part of the conditions and after you have fulfilled yours then—then we'll consider."
He strode over to her, seized her hands and pulled her to her feet beside him. His face was white, his eyes searching.
"Peg said that you would walk over burning ploughshares if you thought duty called; she's right. But—but I shan't let you make the sacrifice."