I was not sorry to have the conversation closed, for I wanted a little time for reflection.  It was clear to me that this unsophisticated young savage had been dominated in her actions by one idea alone, that of saving me from a death of unspeakable horror; she knew that, in so doing, she was cutting herself off for ever from her own people, to whom it would be impossible for her to return; and, in her absolute simplicity, she had evidently thought that it would be the easiest thing in the world for her to throw in her lot with mine.  How was I to undeceive her; how make her understand the absolute impossibility of such a thing?  I greatly feared that to convince her of this would be wholly beyond my power.  Yet what was to become of her?  I could not abandon her, alone and unprotected, to her fate; nor could I take her with me.  The problem seemed absolutely insoluble; and at length I came to the conclusion that the only thing to be done was to leave the issue to destiny.