Loudly the word came to her, loudly and sullenly as if the boy were angry with her, almost hated her. It was followed by a fierce splash of oars. The boat shot forward, coming straight towards her. Then suddenly the oars ceased from moving, the dark figure of the rower fell down in a heap, and she heard cries, like cries of despair, and broken exclamations, and then a long sound of furious weeping.
"Gaspare! Gaspare!"
Her voice was strangled in her throat and died away.
"And then, signora, I cried—I cried!"
When had Gaspare said that to her? And why had he cried?
"Gaspare!"
It came from her lips in a whisper almost inaudible to herself.
Then she rushed forward into the dark water.