But though she had suffered
terribly among the waves, she still thought it wrong to be saved.
It would be so pleasant to take that hand, so sweet, so joyous, that
it surely must be wrong. That was her doctrine; and Godfrey Holmes,
though he hardly analysed the matter, partly understood that it was
so. And yet, if once she were landed on that green island, she
would be so happy. She spoke with scorn of a woman clinging to a
tree like ivy; and yet, were she once married, no woman would cling
to her husband with sweeter feminine tenacity than Bessy Garrow. He
spoke no further word to her as he walked home, but in handing her
down to the ferry-boat he pressed her hand. For a second it seemed
as though she had returned this pressure. If so, the action was
involuntary, and her hand instantly resumed its stiffness to his
touch.
It was late that night when Major Garrow went to his bedroom, but
his wife was still up, waiting for him. "Well," said she, "what has
he said to you? He has been with you above an hour."
"Such stories are not very quickly told; and in this case it was
necessary to understand him very accurately. At length I think I do
understand him."
It is not necessary to repeat at length all that was said on that
night between Major and Mrs.
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