In another second he had leaped out to meet her.

She ran to him, stumbled ere she reached him, fell against him, helpless, sobbing, exhausted.
He held her up.

"What is it?
Violet?
Is she drowned ?" he questioned rapidly.
"No--no!" She gasped the words as she lay against his shoulder.
"All right then! Take your time! Come and sit down!" said Nick.
He supported her to the low window-sill, and she sank down upon it, still clinging to him with agonized gasping, voiceless and utterly spent.
He stood beside her, strongly grasping her hand.

"Keep quite quiet!" he said.

"It's the quickest in the end." She obeyed him, as was her custom, leaning her head against him till gradually her breath came back to her and speech became possible.
"Oh, Nick!" she whispered then.