“Come, Hildegarde, my darling—we must go on deck and meet what faces us. If it be Heaven’s will I shall save you. If not, at least we may die together.”
It was in no spirit of heroism that I uttered these words—they sprang directly from my heart.
To look down upon this woman, dearly beloved, and consider that in a brief time she must be at the mercy of those cruel waves beating so madly around us was surely enough to wring the soul of any husband.
Yes, I lived years in that fleeting time.
Hildegarde had also arisen, and her blue eyes were fastened upon my face—I saw love and trust there, but something seemed lacking.
“Oh! Morgan, what is your duty?—to stand by me or help—that woman? I have heard her cry out your name again and again,” she said.
“That’s because she’s hysterical.”
“But your duty——”
“Is to stay with you now and always—nothing under heaven can tear me away.”
“But—Diana—she has a claim——”