Everyone looked at Harriet, who turned very pale. “Is this the second time you have saved Ralph, my dear Harriet?” asked Mr Durrant.
“Ralph?” said Harriet. “You know you ought not to speak—”
“Don’t ask her, father,” said Ralph.
“I ask her nothing. She has saved your life this time, that I can testify. You are a brave girl, Harriet; forgive me for having doubted you. Bravery like yours must be accompanied by other noble traits of character. I will say no more for the present except to add that you ran a terrible risk, and that whatever your good intentions, you could not possibly have saved Ralph but for the aid of that brave sailor who brought you both back to shore.”
The said sailor now appeared on the scene to announce the approach of the carriage which was to convey the party to the yacht. They all got in, and in a short time were back again on board the “Sea-Gull.” The first person they saw when they stood on the deck of the pretty little yacht was Jane, whose white face and anxious eyes would have told too much of her story had not Harriet rushed up to her, squeezed her hand and managed to whisper:
“It is all right; and you have but to say boldly now that you forgot to give me the message about not bathing.”
“Is that you, Jane Bush?” said Mr Durrant at that moment.
“Yes, sir,” said Jane, coming forward.
Harriet gave her fingers a squeeze. That squeeze seemed to say:
“Five pounds will be yours—five beautiful, lovely, golden sovereigns! Don’t lose your courage now.”