Rosestoodstill,appalledbythissuddenknowledgeofhowmuchgreatertheevilwasthanshehaddreamed。Whatoughtshetodo？Gowithhercousin,andbysodoingtacitlypledgeherselfashiscompaniononthatlongerjourneyforwhichhewasasyetsopoorlyequipped？Bothheartandconscienceprotestedagainstthissostronglythatsheputthethoughtaway。Butcompassionpleadedforhimtenderly,andthespiritofself—sacrifice,whichmakeswomenlovetogivemorethantheyreceive,causedhertofeelasifinameasurethisman\'sfatelayinherhands,tobedecidedforgoodorillthroughher。Howshouldshebetruebothtohimandtoherself？
Beforethisquestioncouldbeanswered,hewasbackagain,lookingasifhehadlefthiscarebehindhim,forhismoodsvariedlikethewind。
Herattitude,asshestoodmotionlessandalonewithdowncastface,wassounlikethecheerfulcreaturewhocametomeethimanhourago,itfilledhimwithself—reproach,and,comingup,hedrewonehandthroughhisarm,saying,assheinvoluntarilyfollowedhim,\"Youmustnotstandstill。Forgetmyheroicsandanswermyquestion。Willyougowithus,Rose？\"
\"Notnowthatisaskingtoomuch,Charlie,andIwillpromisenothing,becauseIcannotdoithonestly,\"sheanswered,sofirmlythatheknewappealwasuseless。
\"AmItogoalone,then,leavingallIcareforbehindme？\"