“But you cannot go alone, Mrs. Landray.”
She smiled superior. She was already prepared for this objection.
“No, of course not. I shall join some party. Other women have gone. In the spring other women will be going again; I will join some such party.”
He seated himself in a chair at her side.
“I know you will listen to me, even if you had rather not hear what I am going to say; but have you really considered the difficulties, the hardships, the actual dangers?” he asked.
“They are nothing, compared with what I am suffering now,” she said simply. He hurried on.
“If you will only wait, you may hear from him. Indeed you must make up your mind to wait until the river opens; you cannot start until then. I beg of you wait just a little longer; pray don't misunderstand me, I am not going to oppose any project you may have set your heart upon; that would be quite without my province.”
“Then you really think I should go—”
“No, Mrs. Landray, I can scarcely conceive—you will pardon me for saying it—a more ill-advised undertaking; but I think you will see it this way, too, when I have pointed out some of the difficulties.”
Virginia's face fell.