She was taking Lali to the home of General Armour, and that must be kept constantly before her mind.

Therefore, from the day they set foot on the Aphrodite, she kept her place beside Mrs.Armour, sitting with her,--they walked very little,--and scarcely ever speaking, either to her or to the curious passengers.

Presently the passengers became more inquisitive, and made many attempts at being friendly; but these received little encouragement.

It had become known who the Indian girl was, and many wild tales went about as to her marriage with Francis Armour.

Now it was maintained she had saved his life at an outbreak of her tribe; again, that she had found him dying in the woods and had nursed him back to life and health; yet again, that she was a chieftainess, a successful claimant against the Hudson's Bay Company--and so on.
There were several on board who knew the Armours well by name, and two who knew them personally.