"Nor I, sweet lady, it was all so sudden. I saw a boat whirling toward that treacherous vortex, the flash of a blue mantle, the whiteness of an upturned face. What I did, you know. I cannot tell how it was done; did not dream who the person was. Now, I long to fall upon my knees and thank God."
Caroline clasped the hands which had fallen to her lap, bent her head, and unspoken words of thanksgiving trembled in her heart. The man looked upon her eagerly. That gentle glow of devotion gave her face the sweetness of a madonna.
He thought this, and almost dropped the oars, the longing to fall down upon his knees by her side was so intense.
She saw this, understood it, and smiled for the first time.
"I was asking God to forgive me for being grateful to you before I thought of Him."
"And I was asking Him to make me grateful enough for having saved you. Surely that should bring his blessing on us both."
Caroline bent her head, and a sweet smile crept over her lips. Then she bethought herself of the things of this world, and grew troubled.
"But I am taking you from your course. Forgive me!"
"From my course? Not so. It was for this purpose I come. Perhaps you are not informed that I am to make your Italian more perfect than it is, which is scarcely needed."
"You sir!—you?"