The blood beat so in my head and round my eyes I could hardly see her. I moved to her, clinging to one blind object. I bent over her and lifted her up. She was like a doll in weight. She was nothing to me.
As she realised my intention she seemed to turn into a wild animal in my arms. She bit and tore at my wrists, and scratched my face with her long sharp nails.
The ship was moving now and I was desperate.
I walked with her to the window and put her feet over the ledge.
We neither of us spoke a word. She clung to my neck so I thought she must overbalance me and drag me through with her.
With all my force I pushed her outwards and away from me. Her hands broke from my neck and scratched down my face till the blood ran from it.
"Don't struggle so," I warned her; "you will drop into the sea if you do." For a blue crack opened already between the moving ship and the quay.
Words were useless. She bit and struggled and clung to me like a cat mad with fear and rage.
With an effort I leant forward and half threw, half dropped her on the woodwork. She fell there with a gasping cry, and I drew the window to and shut it.
The ship rose and fell now and the blue water gleamed in an ever-widening track between its side and the quay.