“They banished him—he’s in exile—I am going to him,” she replied.
“Going to him! Do you know how far it is to the frozen regions whither culprits are banished, little one?” asked the man.
“Yes; I know it is a long way off—but I have managed to come nearly a fourth of my journey, and I shall get through the rest, never fear.”
“‘Never fear!’ But don’t you fear? It’s a long way, and a fearful place when you get there.”
“I know it is; but if it’s bad for me, it’s bad for my father,—and it will make the place better for him if he have his little Paulina with him, to help him bear its fearfulness.”
“I am not speaking of what it is to him. It would be more tolerable to him, I dare say, with his child to keep him company there; but what I mean is, that it will be a terrible place for you—you don’t know its horrors.”
“Oh, yes, I do. They told me of them when he was banished. They tried to prevent my going after him, but I got away. I made my escape—I crept out of the house—I watched my opportunity—I managed to get past the sentinels at the city gates—I have made my way, by little and little. I shall reach there, never fear.” And she nodded with an assured air, as she repeated the last words.
The man shook his head. “You don’t know the place you are so eager to reach, my little maid,” he said.
“I dare say it’s very dreadful; but, however bad it may be, home is worse now,—without my father.”
“And who is your father?” said the man.