"In any case," M. Zermatt added, "splendid and rich as this country may be, we could not abandon the Promised Land."
"Certainly not," said Mme. Zermatt emphatically. "It would break my heart to leave it altogether."
"I quite understand you, Betsy dear," Mrs. Wolston replied, "and I would never consent to separate from you in order to live here."
"Well," said Mr. Wolston, "there is no question of doing that, but only of walking about the immediate neighbourhood after lunch."
The question being stated in terms like that, all were unanimous in hailing Mr. Wolston's proposal. Yet his wife and daughter and Mme. Zermatt would have excused themselves from taking part in an expedition which could not fail to be a tiring one, if after some reflection M. Zermatt had not said:
"I should not like to think of you alone in this place, even for only a few hours, and you know, Betsy, that I have never left you at Rock Castle without putting you in charge of one of the boys. In the event of danger during our absence, what would become of you? I should not be easy for a minute. But we can arrange everything; since the river is navigable, why should we not all go up it together?"
"In the canoe?" Ernest asked.
"No; in the pinnace, which, moreover, I would prefer not to leave anchored here while we are away."
"Agreed," Betsy replied; "we are all three ready to go with you."
"Will the Elizabeth be able to make way against the stream?" Mr. Wolston enquired.