“You have the great gift of youth,” said Doane gently.
But a moment later Rocky broke out with: “But, Mr. Doane—how can I wait? She—after her father—they're going to take her away—make her marry somebody at Peking—somebody she doesn't even know—”
“I don't think they will succeed in that plan,” said Doane very soberly.
“But why not? What can she do? A girl—alone—”
“There are tens of thousands of girls in China that have solved that problem.”
“But I don't see—”
“You must still try to keep your mind open. You are treading on ground unknown to our race.” A breathless quality crept into Doane's voice; his eyes were fixed on the distant river bank. “I wonder if I can help you to understand. Death—the thought of death—is to them a very different thing—”
“Oh!” It was more a sharp indrawing of breath than an exclamation. “You don't mean that she would do that?”
Doane bowed his head.
“But she couldn't do a cowardly thing.”