Ilefther，wenttothecuddyanddraggedoutthesmallcanvastarpaulinwhichIusedtocovertheengineatnight。Withthis，acodline，theboathook，andmyoneoarIimprovisedasortofjuryrigwhichItiederectattheforwardendofthecockpit。ThenI
wentaftandtookthewheelagain。Thetarpaulinmadeapoorapologyforasail，butIhopeditmightanswerthepurposewellenoughtokeeptheComfortbeforethewind。
Itdid。Tackingwas，ofcourse，outofthequestion，butwiththegaleasternthelaunchansweredherhelmandslidoverthewavesinsteadofrollingbetweenthem。Isighedinrelief。ThenI
rememberedmypassengersittingsilentbesideme。Shedidnotdeserveconsideration，butIvouchsafedawordofencouragement。
\"Don’tbefrightened，\"Isaid。\"Itisonlyastiffbreezeandthisboatisseaworthy。Weareallrightnow。\"
\"Butwhydidyoutakeuptheanchor？\"
BywayofanswerIpointedaftoverthestern。Inthedarknessthefrothoftheshoalgleamedwhite。Ifelthershudderasshelooked。
\"Wherearewegoingnow——please？\"sheasked，amomentlater。
\"WeareheadedfortheWellmouthshore。Itistheonlydirectionwecantake。Ifthiswindholdsweshalllandinafewhours。Itisalldeepwaternow。Therearenomoreshoals。\"
\"But，\"anxiously，\"canwelandwhenwereachthere？Isn’titabadcoast？\"
\"Notvery。IfwecanmakeMackerelIslandwemaybeabletogetashoreatthelightoranchorintheleeoftheland。Itisallright，MissColton。Iamtellingyouthetruth。Strangeasitmayseemtoyou，Ireallyam。\"
Icouldnothelpaddingthelastbitofsarcasm。Sheunderstood。
Shedrewawayonthebenchandaskednomorequestions。
OndrovetheComfort。ThefirstfiercenessofthesquallhadpassedanditwasnowmerelywhatIhadcalledit，astiffbreeze。
Outhereinthemiddleofthebaythewaveswerehigherandweshippedsomesprayoverthequarter。Theairwassharpandthechillpenetratedevenmythickjacket。
\"Youmustbecold，\"Isaid。\"Aren’tyou？\"
\"No。\"
\"Butyoumustbe。Takethewheelamoment。\"
\"Iamnotcold。\"
\"Takethewheel。\"
Shetookit。Igropedaboutinthecuddyagain，gotoutmystormcoat，anoldpeajacketwhichIworeongunningexpeditions，andbroughtittoher。
\"Slipthison，\"Isaid。
\"Idonotcareforit。\"
\"Putiton。\"
\"Mr。Paine，\"haughtily，\"Itellyou……oh！\"
Ihadwrappedthecoatabouthershouldersandfastenedtheupperbutton。
\"Nowsitdownonthedeckhere，\"Iordered。\"Here，bymyfeet。
Youwillbebelowtherailthereandoutofthewind。\"
Tomysurprisesheobeyedorders，thistimewithoutevenaprotest。
Ismiledgrimly。Toseeherobeysuitedmyhumor。Itservedherright。IenjoyedorderingheraboutasifIweremateofanold—
timeclipperandsheaforemasthand。Shehadinsultedmeoncetoooftenandsheshouldpayforit。Outheresocialpositionandwealthandfamilypridecountedfornothing。HereIwasabsolutemasterofthesituationandsheknewit。Allherlifeshewouldrememberit，thehumiliationofbeingabsolutelydependentuponmeforlifeandsafetyandwarmth。Ilookeddownathercrouchingatmyfeet，andthenawayovertheblackwater。TheComfortclimbedwaveafterwave。
\"Mr。Paine。\"
ThetonewasverylowbutIheardit。
Icameoutofmywakingdream——itwasnotapleasantone——andanswered。
\"Yes？\"Isaid。
\"Wherearewe？\"
\"Wearemakingfairprogress，everythingconsidered。Areyouwarmernow？\"
\"Yes——thankyou。\"
Shesaidnomore，nordidI。Exceptforthesplashofthesprayandtheflappingofthelooseendsofthetarpaulin，itwasquietaboardtheComfort。Quiet，exceptforanoddsoundintheshadowbymyknee。Istoopedandlistened。
\"MissColton，\"Isaid，quickly。\"Whatisit？\"
Noanswer。YetIheardthesoundagain。
\"Whatisit，MissColton？\"Irepeated。\"Whatisthematter？Whyareyoucrying？\"
\"I——IamNOTcrying，\"indignantly。Andontheveryheelsofthedenialcameastifledsob。
Thatsobwenttomyheart。Agreatlumproseinmyownthroat。Mybrainseemedtobeturningtopsy—turvy。Amomentbeforeithadbeenfilledwithbitternessandresentmentandvengefulthoughts。
Nowthesehadvanishedandintheirplacecamecrowdingotherandvastlydifferentfeelings。Shewascrying，sobbingtherealoneinthedarkatmyfeet。AndIhadtreatedherlikeabrute！
\"MissColton，\"Ipleaded，inanagonyofrepentance，\"whatisit？
IsthereanythingIcando？Areyoustillcold？Takethisothercoat，theoneIhaveon。Idon’tneedit，really。Iamquitewarm。\"
\"Iamnotcold。\"
\"But——\"
\"Oh，pleasedon’tspeaktome！PLEASE！\"
Iclosedmylipstightlyandclutchedthewheelwithbothhands。
Oh，Ihadbeenabrute，abrute！Ishouldhaveknownthatshewasnotherself，thatshewasfrightenedandnervousanddistraught。I
shouldhavebeenconsiderateandforbearing。Ishouldhaverememberedthatshewasonlyagirl，hystericalandweak。InsteadIhad——
\"MissColton，\"Ibegged，\"pleasedon’t。Please！\"
Noanswer；onlyanothersob。Itriedagain。
\"Ihavebeenacad，\"Icried。\"Ihavetreatedyouabominably。I
don’texpectyoutoforgiveme，but——\"
\"I——Iamsofrightened！\"Theconfessionwasasoliloquy，Ithink；
notaddressedtomeatall。ButIhearditandforgoteverythingelse。Iletgoofthewheelaltogetherandbentoverher，bothhandsoutstretched，to——theLordknowswhat。Iwasnotresponsiblejustthen。
ButwhileIstillhesitated，whilemyhandswerestillintheairaboveher，beforetheytouchedher，Iwasbroughtbacktosanitywitharudeshock。Abarrelorsoofcoldwatercamepouringovertherailanddrenchedusboth。Thelaunch，beingleftwithoutahelmsman，hadswungintothetroughoftheseaandthiswastheresult。
Iamnotreallysurewhathappenedinthenextfewseconds。I
must，Iimagine，haveseizedthewheelwithonehandandmypassengerwiththeother。Atanyrate，whenthesmoke，sotospeak，hadcleared，theComfortwasheadedonheroldcourseoncemore，Iwasbackonthebenchbythewheel，MabelColton’sheadwasonmyshoulder，andIwastellingheroverandoverthatitwasallrightnow，therewasnodanger，wewereperfectlysafe，andvariousinanitiesofthatsort。
Shewasbreathingquickly，butshesobbednomore。Iwasgladofthat。
\"Youaresureyouarenothurt？\"Iasked，anxiously。
\"Yes——yes，Ithinkso，\"sheanswered，faintly。\"Whatwasit？I——I
thoughtweweresinking。\"
\"SodidIforamoment。Itwasallmyfault，asusual。Iletgothewheel。\"
\"Didyou？Why？\"
\"Idon’tknowwhy。\"Thiswasuntrue；Idid。\"Butyouarewetthrough，\"Iadded，remorsefully。\"AndIhaven’tanotherdrywrapaboard。\"
\"Nevermind。YouareaswetasIam。\"
\"Yes，but_I_don’tmind。Iamusedtoit。Butyou——\"
\"Iamallright。Iwasalittlefaint，atfirst，Ithink，butIambetternow。\"Sheraisedherheadandsatup。\"Wherearewe？\"sheasked。
\"WearewithinafewmilesoftheWellmouthshore。ThatlightaheadistheMackerelIslandlight。Weshallbethereinalittlewhile。Thedangerisalmostover。\"
Sheshivered。
\"Youarecold！\"Icried。\"Ofcourseyouare！IfIonlyhadanothercoatorsomething。Itisallmyfault。\"
\"Don’tsaythat，\"reproachfully。\"WhereshouldIhavebeenifithadnotbeenforyou？Iwaspaddlingdirectlyouttowardthosedreadfulshoals。Thenyoucame，justasyouhavedonebefore，andsavedme。And，\"inawonderingwhisper，\"Iknewitwasyou！\"
Ididnotaskherwhatshemeant；Iseemedtounderstandperfectly。
\"Yes，\"Isaid。
\"ButItellyouIknewitwasyou，\"sherepeated。\"Ididnotknow——
Ididnotsuspectuntilthemomentbeforethecollision，beforethelaunchcameinsight——then，allatonce，Iknew。\"
\"Yes。ThatwaswhenIknew。\"
Sheturnedandgazedatme。
\"YOUknew？\"shegasped，hysterically。\"Why——whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Ican’texplainit。JustbeforeyourcanoebrokethroughthefogIknew，thatisall。\"
Itwasunexplainable，butitwastrue。Callittelepathyorwhatyouwill——Idonotknowwhatitwas——Iamcertainonlythat，althoughIhadnotrecognizedhervoice，Ihadsuddenlyknownwhoitwasthatwouldcometomeoutofthefog。Andshe，too，hadknown！Ifeltagain，withanalmostsuperstitiousthrill，thatfeelingofhelplessnesswhichhadcomeovermethatdayofthefishingexcursionwhensherodethroughthebushestomyside。ItwasasifsheandIwerepuppetsinthehandsofsomePowerwhichwasamusingitselfatourexpenseandwouldhaveitsway，nomatterhowwemightfightagainstit。
Shespokeasifshewerestrugglingtoawakenfromadream。
\"Butitcan’tbe，\"sheprotested。\"Itisimpossible。WhyshouldyouandI——\"
\"Idon’tknow……Unless——\"
\"Unlesswhat？\"
Iclosedmylipsonthewordsthatwereonthetipofmytongue。
Thatreasonwasmoreimpossiblethanallelse。
\"Nothing，\"Istammered。
Shedidnotrepeatherquestion。Isawherface，adaintysilhouetteagainstthefoamalongside，turnedawayfromme。I
gazedatituntilIdaredgazenolonger。WasIlosingmysensesaltogether？I——RosPaine——themanwhoseverynamewasnothisown？
Imustnotthinksuchthoughts。IscarcelydaredtrustmyselftospeakandyetIknewthatImust。Thissilencewastoodangerous。
Itookrefugeinacommonplace。
\"Wearegettingintosmootherwater，\"Isaid。\"Itisnotasroughasitwas，doyouthink？\"
Ifsheheardtheremarksheignoredit。Shedidnotturntolookatme。Afteramomentshesaid，inalowvoice：
\"Ican’tunderstand。\"
Isupposedhertobestillthinkingofourmeetinginthefog。
\"Icannotunderstandmyself，\"Ianswered。\"Ipresumeitwasacoincidence，likeourmeetingatthepond。\"
Sheshookherhead。\"Ididnotmeanthat，\"shesaid。\"ImeanthatIcannotunderstandhowyoucanbesokindtome。AfterwhatI
said，andthewayIhavetreatedyou；itiswonderful！\"
IwasobligedtowaitanothermomentbeforeIcouldreply。I
clutchedthewheeltighterthanever。
\"Thewonderfulpartofitall，\"Isaid，earnestly，\"isthatyoushouldevenspeaktome，aftermytreatmentofyouhere，to—night。
Iwasabrute。Iorderedyouaboutasif——\"
\"Hush！Don’t！pleasedon’t。ThinkofwhatIsaidtoyou！Willyouforgiveme？Ihavebeensoungrateful。YousavedmylifeoverandoveragainandI——I——\"
\"Stop！Don’tdothat！IfyoudoIshall——MissColton，please——\"
Shechokedbackthesob。\"Tellme，\"shesaid，amomentlater，thistimelookingmedirectlyintheface，\"whydidyousellmyfatherthatland？\"
Itwasmyturntoavoidherlook。Ididnotanswer。
\"Iknowitwasnotbecauseofthemoney——theprice，Imean。Fathertoldmethatyourefusedthefivethousandheofferedandwouldacceptonlyapartofit；thirty—fivehundred，Ithinkhesaid。I
shouldhaveknownthatthepricehadnothingtodowithit，evenifhehadnottoldme。Butwhydidyousellit？\"
IwouldhavegivenallIhad，oreverexpectedtohave，inthisworld，totellherthetruth。ForthemomentIalmosthatedGeorgeTaylor。
\"Oh，IthoughtImightaswell，giveinthenaslater，\"Ianswered，withashrug。\"Itwasnousefightingtheinevitable。\"
\"Thatwasnotit。Iknowitwasnot。Ifithadbeenyouwouldhavetakenthefivethousand。AndIknow，too，thatyoumeantwhatyousaidwhenyoutoldmeyouneverwouldsell。Ihaveknownitallthetime。Iknowyouweretellingmethetruth。\"
Iwasastonished。\"Youdo？\"Icried。\"Why，yousaid——\"
\"Don’t！IknowwhatIsaid，andIamsoashamed。Ididnotmeanit，really。Foramoment，thereinthelibrary，whenFatherfirsttoldme，Ithoughtperhapsyou——butIdidnotreallythinkit。Andwhenhetoldmetheprice，IKNEW。Won’tyoutellmewhyyousold？\"
\"Ican’t。IwishIcould。\"
\"IbelieveIcanguess。\"
Istarted。\"YoucanGUESS？\"Irepeated。
\"Yes。Ithinkyouwantedthemoneyforsomepurpose，someneedwhichyouhadnotforeseen。AndIdonotbelieveitwasforyourselfatall。Ithinkitwasforsomeoneelse。Wasn’tthatit？\"
Icouldnotreply。Itriedto，triedtoutterapromptdenial，butthewordswouldnotcome。Her\"guess\"wassoclosetothetruththatIcouldonlystammerandhesitate。
\"Itwas，\"shesaid。\"Ithoughtso。Foryourmother，wasn’tit？\"
\"No，no。MissColton，youarewrong。I——\"
\"Iamnotwrong。Nevermind。Isupposeitisasecret。PerhapsI
shallfindoutsomeday。Butwillyouforgivemeforbeingsohateful？Canyou？Whatisthematter？\"
\"Nothing——nothing。I——youaretoogoodtome，thatisall。I
don’tdeserveit。\"
\"Hush！Andwewillbefriendsagain？\"
\"Yes……Oh，no！no！Imustnotthinkofit。Itisimpossible。\"
\"Mustnotthinkofit？WhenIaskyouto？Can’tyouforgiveme，afterall？\"
\"Therewasnothingtoforgive。\"
\"Yes，therewas，agreatdeal。Istheresomethingelse？AreyoustillangrywithmebecauseofwhatIsaidthatafternoonatthegate？\"
\"No，ofcoursenot。\"
\"Itwashatefulofme，Iknow。ButIcouldseethatyouwishedtoavoidmeandIwasprovoked。Besides，youhavepunishedmeforthat。Youhavesnubbedmetwicesince，sir。\"
\"_I_snubbedYOU？\"
\"Yes——twice。Oncewhenwemetinthestreet。Youdeliberatelyturnedawayandwouldnotlookatme。AndoncewhenIpassedyouinthecanoe。Yousawme——Iknowyoudid——butyoucutmedead。
ThatiswhyIdidnotreturnyourbowto—day，atthewedding。\"
\"Butyouhadsaid——Ithought——\"
\"Iknow。Ihadsaidhorridthings。Ideservedtobesnubbed。
There！nowIhaveconfessed。Mayn’twebefriends？\"
\"I……Oh，no，wemustnot，foryoursake。I——\"
\"Formysake！ButIwishit。Whynot？\"
Iturnedonher。\"Can’tyousee？\"Isaid，despairingly。\"Lookatthedifferencebetweenus！YouarewhatyouareandI——\"
Sheinterruptedme。\"Oh，\"shecried，impatiently，\"howdareyouspeakso？Howdareyoubelievethatmoneyand——alltherestofitinfluencesmeinmyfriendships？DoyouthinkIcareforthat？\"
\"Ididnotmeanmoneyalone。ButeventhatMissColton，thateveningwhenwereturnedfromthetripafterweakfish，youandyourfatherandI，Iheard——IdidnotmeantohearbutIdid——whatyourmothersaidwhenshemetyou。Shesaidshehadwarnedyouagainsttrustingyourselfto’thatcommonfellow，’meaningme。Thatshowswhatshethinks。Shewasright；inawayshewasperfectlyright。
NowyouseewhatImeanbysayingthatfriendshipbetweenusisimpossible？\"
Ihadspokenatwhiteheat。NowIturnedaway。Itwassettled。
Shemustunderstandnow。
\"Mr。Paine。\"
\"Yes，MissColton。\"
\"Iamsorryyouheardthat。Mother——sheismymotherandIloveher——butshesaysfoolishthingssometimes。Iamsorryyouheardthat，butsinceyoudid，Iwishyouhadheardtherest。\"
\"Therest？\"
\"Yes。IansweredherbysuggestingthatshehadnotbeenafraidtotrustmeinthecareofVictor——Mr。Carver。SheansweredthatshehopedIdidnotmeantocompareMr。Carverwithyou。AndIsaid——\"
\"Yes？Yousaid——？\"
\"Isaid，\"thetonewaslowbutIheardeverysyllable，\"Isaidshewasright，therewasnocomparison。\"
\"YousaidTHAT！\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Yousaidit！Andyoumeant——？\"
\"Imeant——IthinkImeantthatIshouldnotbeafraidtotrustyoualways——anywhere。\"
Whereweremygoodresolutions——mysternreasonstorememberwhoandwhatIwas——tobesane，nomatteratwhatcosttomyself？Idonotknowwheretheywere；thenIdidnotcare。Iseizedherhand。
Ittrembled，butshedidnotdrawitaway。
\"Mabel——\"Icried。\"Mabel——\"
\"BUMP！\"
TheComfortshookasthebowofadoryscrapedalongherstarboardquarter。Abigredhandclaspedtherailanditsmatebrandishedagood—sizedclubbeforemyeyes。
\"Now，\"saidadeterminedvoice，\"I’vegotyeatlast！ThistimeI’vecaughtyedeadtorights！Now，bygodfreys，you’llpaymeforthemlobsters！\"
CHAPTERXIX
IfIhadbeengivingundividedattentiontomycombineddutiesassteersmanandpilot，insteadofneglectingthemforotherandmoreengrossingmatters，Ishould，doubtless，haveseenthedorybefore。
AsitwasIhadnotseenitatall，norheardtheoars。IthadsneakedupontheComfortoutofthedarknessanditsoccupanthadlaidusaboardasneatlyasyouplease。
Iwas，tosaytheleast，startledandsurprised。Idodgedthethreateningclubandturnedadazedfacetowardthepersonbrandishingit。Heappearedtobeamiddle—sized，elderlyperson，inoilskinsandsouwester，andwhenhespokeagraywhiskerwaggedabovethechinstrapofthesouwester。
\"Whoinblazesareyou？\"Idemanded，assoonasIcouldgetthewordstogether。
\"Neveryoumindthat。YouknowwhoIbeallrightenough。Beyougoin’topaymeforthemlobsters？That’swhat_I_wanttoknow。\"
\"Whatlobsters？\"
\"Themlobstersyou’vebeenstealin’outofmypotsforthelastfortnight。\"
\"_I_havebeenstealing？\"
\"Yes，you。Ibeenlayin’foryouallnightlong。Idon’tknowwhoyoube，butyou’llpayforthemlobstersorcomealongwithmetothelock—up，oneort’other。\"
Ilookedabout，overthewater。ThelighttowardwhichIhadbeentryingtosteerblazeddeadahead，surprisinglynearandbright。
Exceptforthat，however，therewasnosignofanythingexceptdarknessandwaves。
\"Lookhere，myman，\"Isaid。\"Ihaven’tstolenyourlobsters；but——\"
\"Iknowbetter。Idon’tknowwhoyoube，butI’dknowyouwasathiefifIrunacrostyouinprayer—meetin’。Justtolookatyouisenough。\"
Iheardahystericalgigglefromthebenchbesideme。Evidentlythepersonwiththeclubheardit，too，forheleanedforwardtolook。
\"Sothere’stwoofye，eh！\"hesaid。\"Well，bygodfreys，Idon’tcareifthere’samillion！You’llpayforthemlobstersorgotothelock—up。\"
Ilaughedaloud。\"Verywell，\"Isaid。\"Iamagreeable。\"
\"You’reagreeable！Whatdoyoumeanbythat？Thisain’tnolaughin’matter，I’lltellyouthat。\"
Ilaughedagain。\"Idon’tcarewhatyoutellme，\"Iobserved。
\"Andifyouwilltakeussomewhereashore——tothelock—uporanywhereelse——Ishallbemuchobliged。\"
Theoccupantofthedoryseemedtobepuzzled。Heleanedforwardoncemore。
\"Whatsortoftalkisthat？\"hedemanded。\"Where’smylobsters？……
Hey！What？Iswantoman，Ibelieveoneofye’sawoman！
Havethefemalesturnedthieves，too？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Seehere，myfriend，mynameisPaine，andI’mtheonlylobsteraboardthiscraft。ThisladyandIbelonginDenboro。
Mylaunchhasrunoutofgasoleneandwehavebeendriftingaboutthebaysincefiveo’clock。Now，forheaven’ssake，don’ttalkanymore，buttakeustothelock—upandbequickaboutit。\"
Theunknownpaidnoattentiontomyentreaty。InsteadheleanedstillfurtherovertheComfort’srail。ThedorycareeneduntilI
expectedtoseehercapsize。
\"Iswantoman！\"hemuttered。\"Iswantoman！’Tain’tpossibleI’mmistook！\"
\"Itscarcelyseemspossible，Iadmit。ButI’mafraiditistrue。\"
Iheardtheclubfallwithaclatter。
\"My——godfreys！Doyoumeantosay——？FromDenboro？Outofgasolene！Why——why，you’vegotsailup！\"
\"Nothingbutatarpaulinonanoar。\"
\"Andyou’vebeencruisin’allnight？Throughthefog——thesquall——
andall？\"
\"Yes，\"wearily，\"yes——yes——yes。\"
\"But——butain’tyoudrownded？\"
\"Notquite。Ifyoudon’tletgoofthatrailweshallbesoon。\"
\"Driftin’allnight！Ain’tyouwetthrough？\"
\"Yes。MightIsuggestthatwepostponetherestofthecatechismuntilwereach——thelock—up？\"
Thissuggestionapparentlywasaccepted。Ourcaptorsuddenlybecameverymuchalive。
\"Givemealine，\"heordered。\"Anchorrope’lldo。Whereisit？
upfor’ard？\"
Hepawedthedoryalong，handoverhand，untilhereachedtheComfort’sbow。Iheardthethumpoftheanchorashedraggeditintothedory。Thencamethecreakandsplashofoars。Hisvoicesoundedfromsomewhereahead。
\"Headforthelight，\"heshouted。\"I’mgoin’totowyouin。\"
\"Inwhere？\"
\"Inashore。That’sMack’relIslandlight。Myname’sAtwood。I’mkeeperofit。\"
Iturnedtomypassenger。
\"Itlooks，\"Isaid，\"asifourvoyagewasalmostover。\"
Anditwas。Mr。Atwoodhadatoughjobonhishands，towingthelaunch。Butthemake—shiftsailhelpedsomeandIdidmybesttosteerinhiswake。MissColtonandIhadnoopportunitytotalk。
Thegentlemaninthedorykeptuparunningfireofremarks，shoutedbetweengrunts，andembroideredwithcheerfulprofanity。
Wecaughtfragmentsofthemonologue。
\"Iswantoman——ugh——Ithoughtyewasthieves，forsartin。Someeverlastin’，dam——ugh——havebeensneakin’outnightsandhaulin’mylobsterpots。Ugh——ifI’dcaught’emIwascal’latin’to——ugh——
breaktheir——ugh——ugh——Thisdorypullslikeacoalbarge——I——
Wetthrough，ain’tye？Andfroze，Ical’late——Ugh——andhungry，too——Ugh——ugh——Myoldwoman’stendin’light。She——ugh——Herewebe！Easynow！\"
Alowshoreloomedblackacrossourbows。Aboveitthelighthouserose，awhitechalkmarkagainsttheskywitharedglareatitsupperend。Mr。Atwoodsprangoverboardwithasplash。Thelaunchwasdrawninattheendofitsanchorropeuntilitskeelgratedonthesand。
\"Nowthen！\"saidourrescuer。\"Herewebe！Madeharboratlast，thoughIdidthinkI’dcrackmybacktimbersaforewedoneit。
I’lltotetheladyashore。Youcanwade，can’tye？\"
IcouldandIwasverygladoftheopportunity。IturnedtotakeMissColtoninmyarms，butsheavoidedme。
\"HereIam，Mr。Atwood，\"shesaid。\"Oh，thankyou。\"
Shewasswungintotheairandmovedshorewardtotheaccompanimentofmightysplashings。
\"Don’tbescart，ma’am，\"saidMr。Atwood。\"Ishan’tletyedrop。
Lordsakes！I’vetotedmorewomeninmytimethanyoucanshakeastickat。There’smoreda——thatis，there’smoresummerfolkstrytolandonthisislandatlowtidethanthereismoskeetersandthere’smoreofthemthanthere’sfiddlesin——Hi！comeon，you，Mr。What’s—your—name！Straightasyougo。\"
IcameonwadingthrougheelgrassandwateruntilIreachedasandybeach。Amomentlaterwestoodbeforeawhitedoorinaverywhitelittlehouse。Mr。Atwoodopenedthedoor，revealingacosylittlesittingroomandagray—haired，plump，pleasant—facedwomansittinginarockingchairbesideatablewithalampuponit。
\"Hello，Betsy！\"bellowedourrescuer，stampinghiswetrubberbootsonthebraidedmat。\"Gotcompanycometosupper——orbreakfast，orwhateveryouwanttocallit。ThisisMr。PainefromDenboro。
Thisishiswife，Mrs。Paine。They’vebeencruisin’allthewayfromCapeCodtoKamchatkyinamotorboatwithnopowertoit。
Don’tthatbeattheOldScratch，hey？\"
Theplumpwomanrose，withoutatraceofsurprise，asifhavingcompanydropinatthreeo’clockinthemorningwasnothingoutoftheordinary，andcameovertous，beamingwithsmiles。
\"I’mrealgladtoseeyou，Mrs。Paine，\"sheexclaimed。\"Andyourhusband，too。Youmustbefrozetodeath！SetrightdownwhileI
fixuparoomforyouandhuntupsomedrythingsforyoutoputon。Iwon’tbebutaminute。\"
BeforeIcouldofferexplanations，ordomorethanstammerthanks，andratherincoherentonesatthat，shehadbustledoutoftheroom。IcaughtoneglimpseofMabelColton’sface；itwascrimsonfromnecktobrow。\"Mrs。Paine！\"\"Yourhusband！\"IwasgratefultothedoughtyMr。Atwood，butjustthenIshouldhaveenjoyedchokinghim。
Thelightkeeper，quiteunawarethathisunfortunatemisapprehensionoftherelationshipbetweenhisguestsmightbeembarrassing，wasdoinghisbesttomakeusfeelathome。