Admirable woman! For self-possession, spirit, and sense, where is her equal? She mounted, clung, approached. I clasped her, slid back to the edge of the surf, lifted her, rushed, waded, forced my way to land. She was wet. I was winded. I admit both. Stretched on the ground I felt particularly indifferent to any accident, to anything whatever, that might happen to Professor Simpson. Suddenly I was aware of him. Cast up by an ebullient wave, he sprawled on the shore and sprang to his feet, crying,
“A miraculous escape! I would not have believed myself so agile.”
Mrs. Mink looked from one to the other of us, and began to laugh.
“I am delighted,” he said, shaking himself, “my dear Rebecca, to see you in such composure.”
I got up. I spoke with dignity.
“Do I understand, sir, that you've profited by your treachery?”
He looked disturbed.
“Mrs. Mink has—nevertheless I am not without——”
I interrupted and turned to Mrs. Mink.
“You approved of this gentleman's behaviour?”