She had never been so excited in her life--or more courageous. Likewise she felt she possessed certain God-given rights that were poised at the brink of disaster. For a love like hers comes never lightly and is not to be lightly dismissed. Her utterance was difficult, but mastered.
"One night--in the smoke--on the island--when we might have died of thirst--and you came with water---- You remember what you said?"
He was gripping a stanchion fiercely; his fingers were white with the strain.
"Oh! you're not--you're not honest at all!" she suddenly exploded. "That day of the wreck--on the steamer--you know what you said to me then! And any man who has acted so nobly, so thoughtfully----"
He turned and gripped the small, soft hand by his coat-sleeve on the rail.
"Don't do it, little woman--don't do it!" he said, in a low voice, charged with passion. "You told me some stinging truths that day, and now--they're truer than ever!"
"I didn't!" she said, no longer master of her feelings. "I didn't tell the truth! I said I hated--said I loathed---- And you _said_ I'd throw his ring in the sea--and you said you'd make me--like you--some--and you know that I couldn't help liking you now--when you've treated me so horribly all the time! And after everything we've done together----"
"Elaine!" he interrupted, hoarsely, "when did you throw away his ring?"
"After the tiger--the night I gave you the cap, and you acted so hatefully and mean! It bounced and went into the water."
He was white, and tremendously shaken, while gleams of incandescence burned deeply in his eyes. How he stayed the lawless impulse to take her to his arms he never knew. He dropped her hand and turned away, with a savage note of pain upon his lips.
"Good Heavens!" he said, "why don't you help me a little? I had no right then! I have no right now! ... I'm going to take you home to Fenton, if it's the very last act of my life!"
"I know what you mean--you _never_ loved! You don't know the meaning of the word!"
"All right," he said. "We'll let it go at that."
"Oh, you're perfectly horrid!" she suddenly cried, the hot tears springing to her eyes. "I refuse to be taken back to Gerald! I refuse to have anything more to do with any selfish man in the world!"