\"I’mhere，\"pipedupMrs。Lot。\"ButI’mnotthatkindofasalt。\"
\"Iampresent，\"saidMrs。Noah。\"ThoughwhyIevercameIdon’tknow，forIvowedtheminuteIsetmyfootonAraratthatdrylandwasgoodenoughforme，andthatI’dneverstepaboardanotherboataslongasIlived。If，however，nowthatIamhere，Icangiveyouthebenefitofmynauticalexperience，youareallperfectlywelcometoit。\"
\"I’msurewe’reverymuchobligedfortheoffer，\"saidPortia，\"butintheemergencywhichhasarisenwecannotsayhowmuchobligedweareuntilweknowwhatyourexperienceamountedto。Beforerelyinguponyouweoughttoknowhowfarthatreliancecango——notthatI
lackconfidenceinyou，mydearmadam，butthatinanhourofperilonemusttakecare，torelyupontheoak，notuponthereed。\"
\"Thepointisproperlytaken，\"saidElizabeth，\"andIwishtosayherethatIameasierinmymindwhenIrealizethatwehavewithussolevel—headedapersonastheladywhohasjustspoken。Shehasspokentrulyandtothepoint。IfIweretobecomequeenagain，I