Madeleine herself felt that her expressions needed to be qualified, and she tried to correct her mistake.

What should she do without a tutor?
she said.

He must let her have a list of books to read while he was away: they were themselves going north in the middle of May, and Carrington would be back by the time they returned in December.

After all, they should see as little of him during the summer if he were in Virginia as if he were in Mexico.
Carrington gloomily confessed that he was very unwilling to go; that he wished the idea had never been suggested; that he should be perfectly happy if for any reason the scheme broke down; but he gave no explanation of his feeling, and Madeleine had too much tact to press for one.

She contented herself by arguing against it, and talking as vivaciously as she could.