that was all. When once in her boat the baby would be as well as in
her cradle. What purpose cannot a woman gain by perseverance? Her
purpose in this instance Mrs. Arkwright did at last gain by
persevering.

And then their preparations for the journey went on with much
flurrying and hot haste. To us at home, who live and feel our life
every day, the manufacture of endless baby-linen and the packing of
mountains of clothes does not give an idea of much pleasurable
excitement; but at San Jose, where there was scarcely motion enough
in existence to prevent its waters from becoming foul with
stagnation, this packing of baby-linen was delightful, and for a
month or so the days went by with happy wings.

But by degrees reports began to reach both Arkwright and his wife as
to this new route, which made them uneasy. The wet season had been
prolonged, and even though they might not be deluged by rain
themselves, the path would be in such a state of mud as to render
the labour incessant. One or two people declared that the road was
unfit at any time for a woman,--and then the river would be much
swollen. These tidings did not reach Arkwright and his wife
together, or at any rate not till late amidst their preparations, or
a change might still have been made. As it was, after all her
entreaties, Mrs. Arkwright did not like to ask him again to alter
his plans; and he, having altered them once, was averse to change
them again. So things went on till the mules and the boats had been
hired, and things had gone so far that no change could then be made
without much cost and trouble.

During the last ten days of their sojourn at San Jose, Mrs.