His introspection was so intent that he failed to observe the return of the lady in white till her horse spurned the sand upon his riding boots. Then he wheeled alertly and looked up in her face. Her veil had dropped.
She was clasping the child to her with the hand in which she gripped the reins. The other she held out to him.
"You saved the boy!" she said, in a quick, panting whisper. "You saved him!"
"You saved the boy!" she said, in a quick, panting whisper
Aylmer took the proffered hand, lifted his hat, smiled, and recognized the lady of the pier.
He hesitated a moment. He shrugged his shoulders.