"Why, what's the matter?" asked Peter sharply.
He had to be told then, and he wept as if his heart would break; but he could remember nothing after the jump into the sea. It appeared that he was all by himself at the other side of the ship, very unhappy because he thought it was all his fault Becky had been hurt. Then came the crash, and he was terrified. He was wondering what had happened, when Aunt Dorothy came running towards him, crying, "Peter, Peter, where are you?" And then followed the putting on of the life-belt. It was so easy to picture her talking to him all the time, to reassure him, in that quick, cheery way of hers.
"O Eustace," Nesta said afterwards, "wasn't she splendid? I guess Bob must be sorry he teased her so now."
"Pooh," said Eustace, "that was only his fun. Aunt Dorothy knew it."
But Nesta could not stand teasing herself, and was sure no one liked or understood it.
"I don't know," she said; "she used to get red sometimes. And I'm not so sure Bob did mean it all in chaff. He has a real down-on-anything-English. I mean to ask him some day what he thinks of English girls' pluck now."
"If you do," said Eustace, with sudden ferocity, "I'll never speak to you again."
Nesta stared at him in dismay.
"Why ever?" she asked dully. "Wouldn't he like to talk about her? Didn't he like her, really?"
"Like her!" Eustace exclaimed. "Oh, you little stupid! Didn't you see him when Peter was telling us about her? Didn't you hear Bob then? Can't you understand?"