The voice of the weir had swelled into a roar by now, yet I paid little heed; for me all fear was swallowed up in a great wondering happiness. "Dick," she whispered, "you will hold me tight, you will not let me go when--when--" "Never," I answered; "nothing could ever take you from me now." As I spoke I raised my eyes, and glancing about beheld something which altered the whole aspect of affairs--something which changed tragedy into comedy all in a moment--a boat was coming slowly round the bend. "Lisbeth, look up!" With a sigh she obeyed, her clasp tightening on mine, and a dreadful expectation in her eyes. Then all at once it was gone, her pale cheeks grew suddenly scarlet, and she slipped from my arms; and thereafter I noticed how very carefully her eyes avoided mine. The boat came slowly into view, impelled by one who rowed with exactly that amount of splashing which speaks the true-born Cockney. By dint of much exertion and more splashing, he presently ranged alongside in answer to my hail. "Wo't--a haccident then?" he inquired. "Something of the sort," I nodded. "Will you be so kind as to tow us to the bank yonder?" "Hanythink to hoblige!" he grinned, and having made fast the painter, proceeded to splash us to terra-firma. Which done, he grinned again, waved his hat, and splashed upon his way. I made the boat secure and turned to Lisbeth. She was staring away towards the weir. "Lisbeth," I began. "I thought just now that--that it was the end!" she said, and shivered. "And at such times," I added, "one sometimes says things one would not have said under ordinary circumstances. My dear, I quite understand-quite, and I'll try to forget--you needn't fear." "Do you think you can?" she asked, turning to look at me. "I can but try," I answered. Now as I spoke I wasn't sure, but I thought I saw the pale ghost of the dimple by her mouth. We walked back side by side along the river-path, very silently, for the most part, yet more than once I caught her regarding me covertly and with a puzzled air. "Well?" I said at last, tentatively. "I was wondering why you did it, Dick? Oh, it was mean! cruel! wicked! How could you?" "Oh, well"--and I shrugged my shoulders, anathematising the Imp mentally the while. "If I hadn't noticed that the rope was freshly cut, I should have thought it an accident," she went on. "Naturally!" I said. "And then, again, how came you in the boat?" "To be sure!" I nodded. "Still, I can scarcely believe that you would willfully jeopardise both our lives--my life!" "A man who would do such a thing," I exclaimed, carried away by the heat of the moment, "would be a--a--" "Yes," said Lisbeth quickly, "he would." "--And utterly beyond the pale of all forgiveness!" "Yes," said Lisbeth, "of course." "And," I was beginning again, but meeting her searching glance, stopped. "And you forgave me, Lisbeth," I ended. "Did I?" she said, with raised brows. "Didn't you?" "Not that I remember."