It was nothing to her that the road by which they had come should be blotted out. She had no thought for that, no desire or intention to return. If an earthquake had rent away the ground behind them, she would not have been dismayed. It was only the forward path, leading ever upwards to the desired country, that held her mind, and the memory of a voice that called far above the mountain height.
The sun sank, the glory faded. The dark and the cold wrapped them round. But still was she undaunted. "When the dawn comes, we shall be there," she said.
And Dinah heard her with a sinking heart. She had no thought of leaving her, but she knew and faced the fact that in going on, she carried her life in her hand. Yet she kept herself from despair. Surely by now the brothers would have found out, and they would follow! Surely they would follow! And Eustace--Eustace would thank her for what she had done.
She strained her ears for their coming; but she heard nothing--nothing but their own muffled footsteps on the snow. And ever the darkness deepened, and the mist crept closer around them.
She gathered all her courage to face the falling night. She was sure she had done right to come and so she hoped God would take care of them.