She looked at Nick as she asked this question, and it was Nick who answered her in his quick, keen way, as though he realised the mercy of brevity.

“Yes.  He and some fisher chaps went out early this morning in an ordinary boat to rescue some fellows on a wreck that had drifted on to the rocks outside the harbour.  The lifeboat had been damaged, and couldn’t be used.  They reached the wreck all right, but there were more to save than they had reckoned on—­more than the boat would carry—­and the wreck was being battered to pieces.  It was only a matter of seconds for the tide was rising.  So they took the lot, and Grange went over the side to make it possible.  He hung on to a rope for a time, but the seas were tremendous, and after a bit it parted.  He was washed up two hours ago.  He had been in the water since three, among the rocks.  There wasn’t the smallest chance of bringing him back.  He was long past any help we could give.”

He ended abruptly, and helped himself with a jerk to something in a glass that Jim had placed by his side.

Muriel stood dumbly watching.  She noticed with an odd, detached sense of curiosity that he was shivering violently as one with an ague.  Dr. Jim was already making swift preparations for departure.

Suddenly Nick looked up at her.  His eyes were glittering strangely.  “I know now,” he said, “what you women feel like when you can only stand and look on.  We have been looking on—­Daisy and I—­just looking on, for six mortal hours.”  He banged his fist with a sort of condensed fury upon the table, and leapt to his feet.  “Jim, are you ready?  I can’t sit still any longer.”

“Finish that stuff, and don’t be a fool!” ordered Jim curtly.

Muriel turned swiftly towards him.  “You’ll take me with you!” she said very earnestly.

Nick broke in sharply upon the request.  “No, no, Muriel!  You’re not to go.  Jim, you can’t—­you shan’t—­take her!  I won’t allow it!”

But Muriel was clinging to Dr. Jim’s arm with quivering face upraised.  “You will take me,” she entreated.  “I was able to help Daisy before.  I can help her now.”

But even before she spoke there flashed a swift glance between the two brothers that foiled her appeal almost before it was uttered.  With a far greater gentleness than was customary with him, but with unmistakable decision, Dr. Jim refused her petition.

“I can’t take you now, child.  But if Daisy should ask for you, or if there is anything under the sun that you can do for her, I will promise to let you know.”

It was final, but she would not have it so.  A sudden gust of anger caught her, anger against the man for whose sake she had one night shed so many bitter tears, whom now she so fierily hated.  She still clung to Jim.  She was shaking all over.

“What does it matter what Nick says?” she urged pantingly.  “Why give in to him at every turn?  I won’t be left behind—­just because he wishes it!”