'I did not fall overboard.'

'Then, what happened?'

'I threw myself into the sea!'

'You--you wished to drown?'

'Yes, I wanted to die--to be rid of my wretched, empty life.'

Done was thrilled. He gazed earnestly upon the frail young figure; he had
a dawning sense of the possibilities of life and emotion in others. He,
too, had often thought of self-slaughter in an abstract way as the final
defiance; but here was a mere girl for whom life held so little that she
craved for and dared death. A remembrance of his own sister came back to
him, softening his heart to pity. He touched Lucy's arm gently.

'And when you were thanking me just now,' he said, 'you--'

'I lied? No, no, no!' she cried, with a revulsion of feeling; 'I meant
it! I am grateful--indeed I am grateful! I longed to die; but the thought
of washing about in these terrible waters makes me ill with fear. When
the waves took hold of me and swept me under I wished to live--I had a
wild yearning for life. Many times since last night I have felt the water
sucking me down and the mighty waves piling above me, and have felt again
the utter helplessness and terror.' Shuddering, she covered her face with
her hands, but continued speaking after a moment's pause. 'It was
horrible to die; but I am wretched--wretched! and I shall never be brave
enough to venture again--never!'