She looked at him steadfastly for a moment, and then murmured:
"You are thinking of your friend, Mr. Munson."
"That would be quite natural. How many more can you think of?"
"You are indeed unrelenting," she faltered, tears coming into her
eyes; "but I cannot forget that but for you _I_ should now be out
there"--and she indicated the sea by a gesture, then covered her
face with her hands, and shuddered.
"Do not feel under obligations. I should have been compelled to do
as much for any human being. You seem to forget that I stood an
even chance of being out there with you, and that there was no
more need of the risk than there was that my best friend's life
should be blight--"
"You--you out there?" she cried, springing toward him and pointing
to the sea.
"Certainly. You cannot suppose that having once found you, I could
come ashore without you. As it was, my strength was rapidly giving
way, and were it not for the rope--"
"Oh, forgive me," she cried passionately, seizing his hand in
spite of him. "It never entered my mind that you could drown.
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