"Of course, I did—with those guns frightening me!"
"You woke me, Eve," he repeated coolly, "and my dream had already cured me. I am perfectly well. We'll get out of this mess shortly, you and I. And—and then—" He paused so long that she looked up at him in the bluish dusk:
"And what then?" she asked.
He did not answer. She said: "Tell me, Kay."
But as his lips unclosed to speak a terrific shock shook the saloon—a shock that seemed to come from the depths of the ship, tilt up the cabin floor, and send everybody reeling about.
Through the momentary confusion in the bluish obscurity the cool voice of an officer sounded unalarmed, giving orders. There was no panic. The hospital units formed and started for the deck. A young officer passing near exchanged a calm word with McKay, and passed on speaking pleasantly to the women who were now moving forward.
McKay said to Miss Erith: "It seems that we've been torpedoed. We'll go on deck together. You know your boat and station?"
"Yes."
"I'll see you safely there. You're not afraid any more, are you?"
"No."