earnest longing call her spirit back? for she had been close upon the
shadow land. She came back slowly, dimly conscious of escaping from
some deadly horror, and awakening to something pleasant, something
happy. She slowly opened her eyes, and observing Cardo's strong right
hand, which still held and chafed her own, while his left arm upheld
her drenched form, she moved a little, and murmured:

"Are you hurt?"

"No," said Cardo, trembling in every limb with the excitement which he
had controlled until now, and with the delight of seeing life and
movement return to her, "hurt? no! only thankful to find you safe; only
anxious to get you home."

Valmai's voice was weak and low, and he had to bend his head over her
to catch the words:

"You have been near death for my sake--those dreadful waves!"

"Do not think of them! I was in no danger. But I have been nearer
death since I have sat here watching your slow recovery. Now, Valmai,"
he said, realising that every moment of exposure in her cold, drenched
garments was danger to her, "be brave; give yourself up to me, and I
will carry you home."

But this adjuration was needless, for as he placed her gently down
while he rose to his feet he felt that she was limp and powerless as a
baby; he lifted her in his arms, and felt her weight no more than if he
had carried a storm-beaten bird. His own drenched condition he did not
consider--did not feel, while he climbed with careful footsteps up the