However, she observed his mind return and rightly divined he was thinking her silence a trifle ungracious; so she lifted her hand toward a white cloud that rose above the vanished hills and river, saying:
"Our common mother waves us farewell."
"Yes," he cried with grateful pleasure. Seeing her draw her wrap closer he added, "You're cold?" And it was true, although she shook her head. He bent again to explain. "It'll be warmer when we leave this valley. You see, here——"
"Yes," she nodded so intelligently that he did not finish. Miss Garnet, however, was thinking of her chaperone and dubiously glanced back at the door. Then she braced her feet afresh. They were extremely pretty.
He smiled at them. "You needn't plant yourself so firmly," he said, "I'm not going to let you fall off."
O dear! That reversed everything. She had decided to stay; now she couldn't.
Once more the Northern pair received them with placid interest. Mr. Fair presently asked a question which John had waited for all day, and it was dark night without and lamplight within, and they were drawing near a large city, before the young man, in reply, had more than half told the stout plans and hopes of this expedition of his after capital and colonists.
Mrs. Fair showed a most lively approval. "And must you leave us here?"
Barbara had not noticed till now how handsome she was. Neither had John.
"Yes, ma'am. But I shan't waste a day here if things don't show up right. I shall push right on to New York."