Mrs. Heriot hid her face.
"I shall go mad if anything happens to you," she said hysterically.
Chris dived without answering.
He came up breathless and spluttering. The water was very cold, and he was hampered by his clothes, but he got hold of the skiff and dragged it back to the ship's side, clambering up again by the rope ladder.
"You'll take your death of cold," said Mrs. Heriot tragically, but she did not attempt to touch him again. In his drenched condition he did not look very romantic with his collar as limp as muslin and 73 his hair plastered down on his forehead.
"It was so brave of you," she murmured.
"It was folly ever to have come," Chris said. He steadied the skiff while she climbed back into it, then he followed and pushed off.
"What in the world will people say?" Mrs. Heriot asked hysterically.
Chris looked at her; his teeth were chattering a little.
"What can they say? It was an accident."