“And is that all the reason?” he asked, still at work.

“Reason enough,” said I.

“Not quite,” said he.

“Dan,—­for my sake”——­

“I can’t, Georgie.  Don’t ask me.  I mustn’t”—­and here he stopped short, with the coil of rope in his hand, and fixed me with his eye, and his look was terrible—­“we mustn’t let Faith die.”

“Well,” I said, “try it, if you dare,—­and as true as there’s a Lord in heaven, I’ll cut the rope!”

He hesitated, for he saw I was resolute; and I would, I declare I would have done it; for, do you know, at the moment I hated the little dead thing in the bottom of the boat there.

Just then there came a streak of sunshine through the gloom where we’d been plunging between wind and water, and then a patch of blue sky, and the great cloud went blowing down river.  Dan threw away the rope and took out the oars again.

“Give me one, Dan,” said I; but he shook his head.  “Oh, Dan, because I’m so sorry!”

“See to her, then,—­fetch Faith to,” he replied, not looking at me, and making up with great sturdy pulls.

So I busied myself, though I couldn’t do a bit of good.  The instant we touched bottom, Dan snatched her, sprang through the water and up the landing.  I stayed behind; as the boat recoiled, pushed in a little, fastened the anchor and threw it over, and then followed.

Our house was next the landing, and there Dan had carried Faith; and when I reached it, a great fire was roaring up the chimney, and the tea-kettle hung over it, and he was rubbing Faith’s feet hard enough to strike sparks.  I couldn’t understand exactly what made Dan so fiercely earnest, for I thought I knew just how he felt about Faith; but suddenly, when nothing seemed to answer, and he stood up and our eyes met, I saw such a haggard, conscience-stricken face that it all rushed over me.  But now we had done what we could, and then I felt all at once as if every moment that I effected nothing was drawing out murder.  Something flashed by the window, I tore out of the house and threw up my arms, I don’t know whether I screamed or not, but I caught the doctor’s eye, and he jumped from his gig and followed me in.  We had a siege of it.  But at length, with hot blankets, and hot water, and hot brandy dribbled down her throat, a little pulse began to play upon Faith’s temple and a little pink to beat up and down her cheek, and she opened her pretty dark eyes and lifted herself and wrung the water out of her braids; then she sank back.

“Faith!  Faith! speak to me!” said Dan, close in her ear.  “Don’t you know me?”

“Go away,” she said, hoarsely, pushing his face with her flat wet palm.  “You let the sail take me over and drown me, while you kissed Georgie’s hand.”

I flung my hand before her eyes.

“Is there a kiss on those fingers?” I cried, in a blaze.  “He never kissed my hands or my lips.  Dan is your husband, Faith!”