I shook my head: “I am afflicted with a fatal illness. I am afraid of the voyage.”
Her sweet face expressed such concern that I quickly added: “It is nothing serious; but there is no hope for it—it is only old age.”
“That’s just like you,” she exclaimed, “and I know you do not dread the ocean.”
“Well, we’ll see,” I tergiversated. “I don’t believe you’ll stay. You’ll miss all the American conveniences and you’ll get so tired of hearing nothing but French.”
“Nonsense!” she exclaimed. “Of course we shall stay, and of course you’ll come.”
[CHAPTER II]
JUST A COMMON VOYAGE
