‘To save you, young lady, to save you! For God’s sake, collect your strength and collect your firmness! If you were here alone, and hemmed in by the rising tide on the flow to fifty feet above your head, you could not be in greater danger than the danger you are now to be saved from.’ The figure on the sand was spun out, and straggled off into a crooked little jerk that ended at the cliff very near us. ‘As I am, before Heaven and the Judge of all mankind, your friend, and your dead sister’s friend, I solemnly entreat you, Miss Niner, without one moment’s loss of time, to come to this gentleman with me!’ If the little carriage had been less near to us, I doubt if I could have got her away; but it was so near that we were there before she had recovered the hurry of being urged from the rock. I did not remain there with her two minutes. Certainly within five, I had the inexpressible satisfaction of seeing her—from the point we had sat on, and to which I had returned—half supported and half carried up some rude steps notched in the cliff, by the figure of an active man. With that figure beside her, I knew she was safe anywhere. I sat alone on the rock, awaiting Mr. Slinkton’s return. The twilight was deepening and the shadows were heavy, when he came round the point, with his hat hanging at his button-hole, smoothing his wet hair with one of his hands, and picking out the old path with the other and a pocket-comb. ‘My niece not here, Mr. Sampson?’ he said, looking about. ‘Miss Niner seemed to feel a chill in the air after the sun was down, and has gone home.’ He looked surprised, as though she were not accustomed to do anything without him; even to originate so slight a proceeding. ‘I persuaded Miss Niner,’ I explained. ‘Ah!’ said he. ‘She is easily persuaded—for her good. Thank you, Mr. Sampson; she is better within doors. The bathing-place was farther than I thought, to say the truth.’ ‘Miss Niner is very delicate,’ I observed. He shook his head and drew a deep sigh. ‘Very, very, very. You may recollect my saying so. The time that has since intervened has not strengthened her. The gloomy shadow that fell upon her sister so early in life seems, in my anxious eyes, to gather over her, ever darker, ever darker. Dear Margaret, dear Margaret! But we must hope.’ The hand-carriage was spinning away before us at a most indecorous pace for an invalid vehicle, and was making most irregular curves upon the sand. Mr. Slinkton, noticing it after he had put his handkerchief to his eyes, said: ‘If I may judge from appearances, your friend will be upset, Mr. Sampson.’ ‘It looks probable, certainly,’ said I. ‘The servant must be drunk.’ ‘The servants of old gentlemen will get drunk sometimes,’ said I. ‘The major draws very light, Mr. Sampson.’ ‘The major does draw light,’ said I.