"I shall go through to that place you spoke of—Eustis Landing, wasn't it?" said Winthrop.
"Oh, you are better!"
Her relief showed itself in these words. But much more in her face; its strained tension gave way, her tears fell. She dried them in silence.
"Because I can speak of something outside of this infernal bog? Yes, I shall get you safely through now. And myself also. But—it hasn't been easy!"
"Oh, I know that."
"I beg your pardon, no, you don't; not the half."
In a moment or two more he announced that he was beginning to see "something besides fireworks." She still continued, however, to direct him.
The swamp had been growing more open. At length the channel brought them to a spectral lake, with a few dead trees in it here and there hung with white moss. "I remember this place, the creek opens out just opposite. At last it's over!"
"And at last I can see. But I must take this thing off; it binds me." And he unloosed and threw off her lace scarf.
They found the creek and entered. "It seems strange to see solid ground again, doesn't it?" he said.