The beauty of it almost overcame the terror with Lilian as she grasped her mother's hand.
"It is a fit gate to enter heaven by," said John, coming to her side. "We have done all we can," he added.
At the moment the bows dipped with a prodigious sea. Somebody forward sang out, "She's settling, sir! she's settling, sir!" The cry ran along the deck like fire: there was one panicstricken shriek that followed, and the men had jumped for the boats, into which water and provision had been already thrown. Reyburn came staggering up the companion-way with Helen. The dingy and one of the quarter-boats were already swamped in the wild haste: the men were crowding into the other, which had been safely lowered.
"You brutes!" the captain shouted, "are you going to leave the women?"
"Let them come, then," answered a voice, "and make haste about it;" and Lilian found herself drawn forward and looking over the side into the shadow below.
"Are you going, John?" she said hurriedly.
"No, darling: it is impossible, you see, but—"
"Nor I, either," she answered quickly.
"Lilian!"
"No," she said, "no! We were to be together in life, and we shall be in death. Oh, John, do you think I can leave you now?"