"But it happened in broad daylight!" said Lisbeth, almost in a whisper. She was sitting half turned from me, her gaze fixed on the bend of the river, and by chance her restless hand had found and begun to fumble with the severed painter.
So we drifted on, watching the gliding banks, while every moment the roar of the weir grew louder and more threatening.
"Dick," she said suddenly, "we can never pass that awful place without oars!" and she began to tie knots in the rope with fingers that shook pitifully.
"Oh, I don't know!" I returned, with an assumption of ease I was very far from feeling; "and then, of course, we are bound to meet a boat or something----"
"Oh, well, we aren't there yet--and--er--let's talk of fish."
"Ah, Dick," she cried, "how can you treat the matter so lightly when we may be tossing down there in that awful water so very soon? We can never pass that weir without oars, and you know it, and--and--oh, Dick, why did you do it--how could you have been so mad?"
With a sudden gesture she rose to her knees and fronted me.
"This!" she cried, and held up the severed painter. "It has been cut! Oh, Dick, Dick, how could you be so mad?"
"Lisbeth!" I exclaimed, "do you mean to say that you think----"
"I know!" she broke in, and turning away, hid her face in her hands.
We were not so very far from the bend now, and seeing this, a sudden inspiration came upon me, by means of which I might prove her mind towards me once and for all; and as she kneeled before me with averted face, I leaned forward and took her hands in mine.
"Lisbeth," I said, "supposing I did cut the boat adrift, like a--a fool--endangering your life for a mad, thoughtless whim--could you forgive me?"
For a long moment she remained without answering, then very slowly she raised her head.
"Oh, Dick!" was all she said, but in her eyes I read the wonder of wonders.
"But, Lisbeth," I stammered, "could you still love me--even--even if, through my folly, the worst should happen and we--we----"
"I don't think I shall be so very much afraid, Dick, if you will hold me close like this," she whispered.
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.