"Now, Mrs. Somerville," he said, but that unhappy lady was so unnerved
that he had to carry her.
"Can you manage to bring the maid?" he asked over his shoulder to
Elsie. This trust in her drove away the weakness which had conquered
her under Isobel's taunts. She stooped over the maid, but the girl
wrestled and fought with her in frantic dread of the passage along the
deck and of facing that howling sea in a small boat.
Elsie herself was almost worn out when Courtenay came back. He took in
the situation at a glance. He picked up the shrieking maid in his
strong arms.
"You won't mind waiting for me," he said to Elsie.
"Don't attempt to come alone. You are too exhausted."
It was a fine thing to do, but she smiled at him to show that she could
still repay his confidence.
"I shall wait," she said simply.
So she was left there, all alone again, without even the dog to bear
her company.