He wanted to explain and conciliate her, but he also wanted to be well out of Chicago.
In the lapse of another half-hour it became apparent to Carrie that it was quite a run to wherever he was taking her, anyhow.
"Is it in Chicago ?" she asked nervously.

They were now far beyond the city limits, and the train was scudding across the Indiana line at a great rate.
"No," he said, "not where we are going." There was something in the way he said this which aroused her in an instant.
Her pretty brow began to contract.
"We are going to see Charlie, aren't we ?" she asked.
He felt that the time was up.

An explanation might as well come now as later.

Therefore, he shook his head in the most gentle negative.
"What ?" said Carrie.

She was nonplussed at the possibility of the errand being different from what she had thought.
He only looked at her in the most kindly and mollifying way.
"Well, where are you taking me, then ?" she asked, her voice showing the quality of fright.
"I'll tell you, Carrie, if you'll be quiet.