“That is unjust. You saved both of us, but I kept my senses, and she did not. You asked me if I was Nina Gray. I am not. My name is Nina Forbes.”
Maseden was stung into a revolt as fantastic as it was sudden.
“Good Lord!” he cried. “Are you married?”
“Please let me explain. Mr. Gray was not my father, but my stepfather. My mother married again. I—wanted to tell you. But does it really matter? Why are we discussing such trivial things? Are we four the only survivors of the wreck?”
“I suppose so.”
“Mr. Gray died—while we were in the chart-room. He was an invalid—a neurotic. He could not withstand hardship of any sort. But the captain and chief officer were behind me on that mast.... Ah! I had forgotten that. I fainted, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
Madge stirred uneasily. Their voices had aroused her.
“Don’t be unkind to Madge,” said the girl hurriedly. “Neither of us could help what happened in San Juan. We thought we were acting for the best. Our lives are still in jeopardy, I imagine. Won’t you be good and forget that unfortunate marriage?”