But the buoy was not reached.  A hand was on him, firm but soft, grasping him by the hair at the back of his neck, which he wore long in Puritanic fashion, and the hand held him and he knew no more.  Susan Shipton, bathing that morning, had seen a human being in the water nearing the point where she herself so nearly lost her life.  Without a moment’s hesitation she made after him, and was fortunate enough to attract the attention of two men in a punt, who followed her.  She came up just in time, and with their help Michael was saved.  He was senseless, but after a few hours he recovered, and asked his wife, who was standing by his bedside, who rescued him.

“Why, it was Susan Shipton.  She was in the water and came after you, and then, luckily, there was a boat near at hand.”

Susan was on the other side of the bed, and he did not see her.  She bent over him and kissed him.

He turned round, and thoughts rushed through his brain with a rapidity sufficient to make one short moment a thousand years; but he said nothing, and presently, almost for the first time in his life, he broke down into sobbing.  He turned away from her and could not look at her.

“You see, Mr. Trevanion,” she said smilingly, “just about that very place I was nearly drowned myself—­I don’t know whether you ever heard of it—­and I hardly ever keep my eyes off it now when I am anywhere near it, although I am not afraid of going pretty near after what Robert told me.  When you want a wash again.—­I knew you could swim well, by the way, but I didn’t know you ever went into the water now—­you must give the buoy a wider berth.”  She stooped down and whispered to him—­“I never told a soul before, but it was Robert who saved me.  We are quits now.  Robert saved me, and I have done something to save you, though not so much as Robert, because he had no boat.”  Then she kissed his forehead again, delighted at the thought that she could put something into the balance against her lover’s heroism.  How proud he would be of her!  She would be able, moreover, to stand up a little bit against him.  It was very pleasant to her to think she owed so much to him, but she liked also to think that she had something of her own.

Michael caught hold of her round the neck, embracing her with a passionate fervour which she supposed to be gratitude, but it was not altogether that.

“Do you know where Robert has gone?” she said.  “He was not at home last night.”

“He has gone on—­on—­some business.  I must go too.”

“You cannot go just yet; not till you have got over the shock.”

“I can—­I can.  Leave me, and I will dress myself.  It is important business, and I must see him.  But, Susan, here—­I want you.”

It was the first time he had ever called her Susan.  She came back to him.  “Listen!” he cried.  She bent her head down, but he was silent.  At last, with his arms again around her, he said, “My child, my child, my child!”