"Don't look so horrified, mother dear," said Harold, as Herbert paused for breath; "no one was drowned, no one even hurt."
"Barring the wetting and the fright, as the Irish say," added Edward.
"But the latter was a real hurt," said Harold; "for the cry they sent up as they made the sudden, involuntary plunge from their berths, where they were probably asleep at the moment of collision, into the cold, deep water of the harbor, was something terrible to hear."
"Enough to curdle one's blood," added Herbert.
"And you are quite sure all were picked up?" asked Elsie, her sweet face full of pity for the unfortunate sufferers.
"Yes, mother, quite sure," answered Edward; "the captain of the craft said, in my hearing, that no one was missing."
"And the captain of the other will probably have pretty heavy damages to pay," remarked Mr. Dinsmore.
"I presume so," said Edward; "but even that would be far better than the loss of his vessel, with all the lives of those on board."
"Money could not pay for those last," Elsie said, low and tremulously, as she looked at her three tall sons through a mist of unshed tears; "and I will gladly help the Edna's captain to meet the damages incurred in his efforts to save them."
"Just like you, mother," Edward said, giving her a look of proud, fond affection.