Even in a serious moment like this, her fondness for mischief got the upper hand.
“You know perfectly well what I mean, Nancy,” he replied very gravely.
He had not meant to speak so soon; not for a long time. But in the excitement of the collision, and their possible danger—for truly help did seem mighty long in coming, and he knew that by this time water must be filling the hold of the steamer—he had thrown aside all reserve. He must let her know how very much he cared.
At that moment, a huge bulk loomed out of the fog, and there were shouts of joy from the passengers. Help had come.
Two at a time, “Like the animals going into the ark,” remarked the irrepressible Martha, the people were all transferred to the City of Boston which had come to rescue them; and the disabled steamer, being lightened, prepared to limp into port with her cargo, under her own power.
In the excitement Nancy managed to whisper to Jim:
“I can’t answer you now, with all this going on; maybe we’ll be able to have a few minutes together before I go home?”
“I’ll see that we do,” was his firm reply.
Rumors of the accident had reached Boston, and the wharf was thronged with people. Some were friends or relatives of the passengers on the unfortunate steamers; others merely seekers of excitement. Jim managed to get his party through the crowd, and into a taxi.
“Sorry to hurry you away from Pierce, Miss—Martha,” he said, after they were seated in the cab and on their way to Miss Ashton’s apartment.