Page:In the Roar of the Sea.djvu/145

Rh to bid it cease beating so fast, and then rushed into what she had to say, fearing lest delay should heighten the difficulty of saying it.

"I am so—so thankful to you, sir, for what you have done for me. My aunt tells me that you found and carried me here. I had lost my way on the rocks, and but for you I would have died."

"Yes," he said, raising his eyes suddenly and looking piercingly into hers, "but for me you would have died."

"I must tell you how deeply grateful I am for this and for other kindnesses. I shall never forget that this foolish, silly, little life of mine I owe to you."

Again her heart was leaping so furiously as to need the pressure of her fingers on it to check it.

"We are quits," said Coppinger, slowly. "You came—you ran a great risk to save me. But for you I might be dead. Ho this rude and worthless—this evil life of mine," he held out his hands, both palms before her, and spoke with quivering voice—"I owe to you."

"Then," said Judith, "as you say, we are quits. Yet no. If one account is cancelled, another remains unclosed. I threw you down and broke your bones. So there still remains a score against me."

"That I have forgiven long ago," said he. "Throw me down, break me, kill me, do with me what you will—and—I will kiss your hand."

"I do not wish to have my hand kissed," said Judith, hastily, "I let you understand that before."

He put his elbow against the mantel-shelf, and leaned his brow against his open hand, looking down at her, so she could not see his face without raising her eyes, but he could rest his on her and study her, note her distress, the timidity with which she spoke, the wince when he said a word that implied his attachment to her.

"I have not only to thank you, Captain Coppinger, but I have to say good-by."

"What—go?"

"Yes—I shall go back to Mr. Menaida to-day." He stamped, and his face became blood-red. "You shall not. I will it—here you stay."

"It cannot be," said Judith, after a moment's pause to let his passion subside. "You are not my guardian, though very generously you have undertaken to be