She was wet through herself, and shivering with cold and fright, yet despite these drawbacks the occasion was like a festival, and her heart was singing for joy.
"How did you know ?" he asked, trying to understand how she chanced to be on hand at the critical moment with a rope.
"Mary had written a note and tied it round the dog's neck, then sent the creature for help.

I found it howling on the other bank of the river, and went over to fetch the poor thing home; then I found the note, and came as quickly as I could," she answered.
"You came just in time for me," he said in a shaken voice.

"I don't think that I could possibly have held out five minutes longer, because of cramp, and I could not lift Miss Selincourt out of the water." "I don't think I could have done it either if it had not been for Oily Dave," Katherine answered, a quiver of mirth stirring her tones.

"Fancy Oily Dave as a rescuer of people in direful straits! We shall have him posing as a public benefactor soon!" "He has long been a private benefactor, or at least I have regarded him as such," Jervis said slowly.
"What do you mean ?" she asked, looking at him in surprise, and wondering if he had forgotten the grim incident of the flood.
"I feel grateful to him, and always shall, because he left me in the lurch that day when the water came in.

I had to owe my life to you that day; and but for you and your rope I must have perished to-day, Katherine.