The accent was as pure as yours or mine; in fact, there was no accent; and the voice was as soft as the eyes.
For some moments I could utter no word. I went on with the sign language, but then, only to pass my hand over my brow.
‘Who are you? and how did you come here? We saw no ship from the Point!’
‘Madam, I——’
The gravity of the features relaxed, and the girl laughed.
‘I knew you spoke English; but why won’t you go on? Oh, how stupid I am! You are faint and ill. Lean on me, and come and have something to eat.’ In another moment she was by my side, with one strong arm round me, and nearly lifting me off the ground, in the attempt to help me to walk—a most humiliating reversal of protective rôles.
‘I can walk perfectly well, thank you; please let me go,’ I had to say, like some coy schoolgirl in the grasp of a dragoon. It was very ridiculous, but I really could not get free.
‘Very well, then, but I will carry you when you like. Now, tell me who you are, and please don’t call me Madam again. Victoria is my name—after the Queen—“Victoria.”’
—‘By the grace of God,’ I could not help thinking, remembering what I had feared, and what I had found.
‘Victoria, I was nearly dashed to pieces on these rocks last night.’