Drawing long, sobbing breaths, Susie sank down and drew Dickie into her arms. In the far, far distance little lights were twinkling in the town, and Susie's heart gave a passionate leap; it wanted to annihilate time and space, and carry her home.
"Mother, mother, mother!" she cried under her breath.
Dick was wet and tired, but he was too excited to lie still. He lay in the hollow of Susie's lap, with his wet feet curled up into her skirt, and his round eyes shining.
"We can't be drowned now, Susie," he said, smiling.
Susie had to make quite an effort before her stiff lips would speak.
"No, Dickie, we are quite safe," she said; "but the ledge is so narrow you must not fidget about. I am going to make you a dear little bed like a bird's nest."
"I don't want to stay here all night," he said.
"But there are goats here."
"I don't want there to be goats," he said again.
"I only mean," said Susie, "that if God can take care of the goats, He can take care of us too."