Page:The tragedy of the Korosko (IA tragedyofkorosko00doylrich).pdf/189

 “I do believe that you are all the time enjoying it, Mr. Stephens,” said Sadie with some bitterness.

“I would not go so far as to say that,” he answered. “But I am quite certain that I would not leave you here.”

It was the nearest approach to tenderness which he had ever put into a speech, and the girl looked at him in surprise.

“I think I’ve been a very wicked girl all my life,” she said after a pause. “Because I have had a good time myself, I never thought of those who were unhappy. This has struck me serious. If ever I get back I shall be a better woman—a more earnest woman—in the future.”

“And I a better man. I suppose it is just for that that trouble comes to us. Look how it has brought out the virtues of all our friends. Take poor Mr. Stuart, for example. Should we ever have known what a noble, constant man he was? And see Belmont and his wife, in front of us there, going fearlessly forward, hand in hand, thinking only of each other. And Cochrane, who always seemed on board the boat to be a rather