When I was nearly dressed again, Lillian turned to Mrs. Durkee: "Would you mind getting a cup of coffee for this girl?" she asked. "I know Jim and Katie have some in preparation out there."
"Of course," Mrs. Durkee returned, and fluttered away.
She had no sooner gone than Lillian gathered me in her arms with a protecting, maternal gesture, as if I had been her own daughter restored to her.
"Quick," she demanded fiercely, "tell me just what happened out there when you went under. Did you get a cramp or what?"
I waited a moment before answering. The suspicion that had come to my brain was so horrible that I did not wish to utter it even to Lillian.
"I think it must have been the undertow," I said feebly. "I felt something like a clutch at my feet dragging me down."
Lillian's face hardened. Into her eyes came a revengeful gleam.
"Undertow!" she ejaculated, "you poor baby! Your undertow was that
Draper devil's calculating hand!"
I stared at Lillian, horrified.
"But Lillian," I protested, faintly, "how is it that they all say she saved my life? If she really tried to drown me why didn't she let me go?"