The situation was perhaps perilous.

But she could not allow her conduct to be influenced by danger or difficulty, which indeed nearly always had the effect of confirming her purpose.

If something had to be done, it had to be done--and let that suffice! He waited, impatient, for her to agree and allow him to go.
"No," she answered, with positive resentment in her clear voice.

"I must speak to you to-night.

It's very important." He made with his tongue an inarticulate noise of controlled exasperation.
"If you've finished, put your things on and walk along with me," he said.
She hurried to obey, and overtook him as he slowly descended the lower flight of stairs.