ny more;
then whatever would become of me until I can get about and look
after myself again?"

Katherine laughed, although her heart was heavy as lead. It was
plain she would have to be taken into confidence whether she would
or no. It was equally plain that she would have to face the
consequences afterwards, for she was not the sort of girl who would
be untrue to herself.

"So you have no scruples about shocking me? Or is it that you
think I am not easily shocked?"

"A little of both, I think," Mary replied with a sigh of relief.
"The fact is, you are so strong and brave that you inspire
confidence."

"Is that meant for a compliment, and do I have to feel grateful?"
asked Katherine.

"That is as you please. But tell someone I must, or I think the
miserable business will wear me out, for I cannot sleep.
Katherine, I was nearly suicide and murderer too on that awful
morning in the tide-hole."

"What nonsense! What will you be saying next?" cried Katherine
with forced cheerfulness; but the colour faded from her cheeks.

"I am not talking nonsense, but unvarnished truth. I might have
been saved easily enough, and Mr. Ferrars need have suffered no
inconvenience save a wetting, but for my own fault; for he was
there long before the water reached the place where I had fallen."

"But why----?" began Katherine, then stopped short, remembering
that she did not want to ask questions, nor to seek information.

"But why wasn't I saved before, were you going to say?" said Mary.
"Because I would not let myself be. The fact is, down at the
bottom I am a coward, just that and nothing more. My life has been
so sheltered and easy, too, that there has been nothing to stir
into activity any latent bravery that I might have had. Mr.
Ferrars could not reach me, or it is probable he would have pulled
me from the ledge where I was lying by sheer force. As it was, he
waited in the water for a long lime, until the tide rose high
enough for him to reach me. It was almost high enough; I realized
that in another moment I should be dragged into the water, whether
I would or no, and I just felt that I could not bear it: so I
sprang up with a wild impulse to rush somewhere, anywhere--but I
had forgotten my twisted ankle, the pain from which was so intense
that I reeled, lost my balance, and was into the water all in a
moment."

"Anyone might have felt like that, and acted just the same under
the circumstances," said Katherin