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； the remains of a smile lingering about his lips at the recollection of the square…headed cat。
And the years passed on； and every year deepened and strengthened their love。 And by slow degrees he had watched the development of her mind； had gloried in her quick perception； had learned to come to her for a second opinion every now and then； had felt proud of her common sense； her thoughtful judgments； had delighted in her enthusiastic； loving help。 All this was ended now。 Strange that； just as he hoped most from her； she should fail him！ It was a repetition of his own early history exactly reversed。 His thoughts went back to his father's study in the old Scottish parsonage。 He remembered a long； fierce argument； he remembered a storm of abusive anger； and a furious dismissal from the house。 The old pain came back to him vividly。
〃And she loves me fifty thousand times more than I ever loved my father；〃 he reflected。 〃And； though I was not abusive； I was hard on her。 And； however mistaken； she was very brave； very honest。 Oh； I was cruel to her harsh； and hateful！ My little child！ My poor little child！ It shall not it cannot divide us。 I am hers； and she is mine nothing can ever alter that。〃
He turned and went back into the room。 Never had he looked grander than at that minute； this man who could hold thousands in breathless attention this man who was more passionately loved by his friends； more passionately hated by his enemies than almost any man in England！ He was just the ideal father。
Erica had not stirred； she was leaning back in her chair； looking very still and white。 He came close to her。
〃Little son Eric！〃 he said； with a whole world of love in his tone。
She sprang up and wreathed her arms round his neck。
By and by； they began to talk in low tones； to map out and piece together as well as they could the future life； which was inevitably severed from the past by a deep gulf。 They spoke of the work which they could still share； of the interests they should still have in common。 It was very sad work for Erica infinitely sadder for Raeburn； but they were both of them brave and noble souls； and they loved each other； and so could get above the sadness。 One thing they both agreed upon。 They would never argue about their opinions。 They would； as far as possible； avoid any allusion to the grave differences that lay between them。
Late in the afternoon； a little group of fishermen and idlers stood on the beach。 They were looking out seaward with some 〃anxiety； for a sudden wind had arisen； and there was what they called 'an ugly sea。'〃
〃I tell you it was madness to let 'em go alone on such a day；〃 said the old sailor with the telescope。
〃And I tell you that the old gentleman pulls as good an oar as any of us；〃 retorted another man； in a blue jersey and a sou'wester。
〃Old gentleman； indeed！〃 broke in the coast guardsman。 〃Better say devil at once！ Why； man alive！ Your old gentleman is Luke Raeburn； the atheist。〃
〃God forbid！〃 exclaimed the first speaker； lowering his telescope for a moment。 〃Why； he be mighty friendly to us fishermen。〃
〃Where be they now； gaffer？ D'ye see them？〃 asked a keen…looking lad of seventeen。
〃Ay； there they be！ There they be！ God have mercy on 'em！ They'll be swamped sure as fate！〃
The coast guardsman； with provoked sang…froid and indifference； began to sing：
〃For though his body's under hatches； His soul is gone alo…o…ft。〃
And then breaking off into a sort of recitative。
〃Which is exactly the opposite quarter to what Luke Raeburn's soul will go； I guess。〃
〃Blowed if I wouldn't pull an oar to save a mate； if I were so mighty sure he was going to the devil！〃 observed a weather…beaten seaman； with gold earrings and a good deal of tattooing on his brawny arms。
〃Would you now！〃 said the coast guardsman； with a superior and sardonic smile。 〃Well； in my 'umble opinion； drowning's too good for him。〃
With which humane utterance； the coast guardsman walked off； singing of Tom who
〃Never from his word departed； Whose heart was kind and soft。〃
〃Well； I； for one； will lend a hand to help them。 Now then； mates！ Which of you is going to help to cheat the devil of his due？〃 said the man with the earrings。
Three men proffered their services； but the old seaman with the telescope checked them。
〃Bide a bit； mates； bide a bit； I'm not sure you've a call to go。〃 He wiped the glasses of his telescope with a red handkerchief； and then looked out seaward once more。
In the meantime； while their fate was being discussed on the shore； Raeburn and Erica were face to face with death。 They were a long way from land before the wind had sprung up so strongly。 Raeburn； who in his young days had been at once the pride and anxiety of the fishermen round his Scottish home； and noted for his readiness and daring； had now lost the freshness of his experience； and had grown forgetful of weather tokens。 The danger was upon them before he had even thought of it。 The strong wind blowing upon them； the delicious salt freshness； even the brisk motion； had been such a relief to them after the pain and excitement of the morning。 But all at once they began to realize that their peril was great。 Their little boat tossed so fearfully that Erica had to cling to the seat for safety； one moment they were down in the hollow of a deep green wave； the next they would be tossed up upon its crest as though their boat had been a mere cockle shell。
〃I'm afraid we've made a mistake； Eric；〃 said Raeburn。 〃I ought to have seen this storm coming up。〃
〃What？〃 cried Erica； for the dashing of the waves made the end of the sentence inaudible。
He looked across the boat at her； and an almost paralyzing dread filled his heart。 For himself he could be brave； for himself death had no terrors but for his child！
A horrible vision rose before him。 He saw her lying stiff and cold； with glazed eyes and drenched hair。 Was there to be a yet more terrible separation between them？ Was death to snatch her from him？ Ah； no that should never be！ They would at least go down together。
The vision faded； he saw once more the fair； eager face； no longer pallid； but flushed with excitement； the brave eyes clear and bright； but somewhat anxious。 The consciousness that everything depended on him helped him to rise above that overmastering horror。 He was once more his strongest self。
The rudder had been left on the beach； and it was only possible to steer by the oars。 He dismissed even the thought of Erica； and concentrated his whole being on the difficult task before him。 So grand did he look in that tremendous endeavor that Erica almost forgot her anxiety； there was something so forceful in his whole aspect that she could not be afraid。 Her heart beat quickly indeed； but the consciousness of danger was stimulating。
Yet the waves grew more and more furious； rolling； curling； dashing up in angry； white foam 〃raging horribly。〃 At length came one which broke right over the little boat； blinding and drenching its occupants。
〃Another like that will do for us；〃 Said Raeburn； in a quiet voice。
The boat was half full of water。 Erica began to bale out