? ? ? ? I looked at my watch. It was one o'clock. I had slept seven hours. And she had been steering seven hours! When I took the steering-oar I had first to unbend her cramped fingers. Her modicum of strength had been exhausted, and she was unable even to move from her position. I was compelled to let go the sheet while I helped her to the nest of blankets and chafed her hands and arms.
? ? ? ? 'I am so tired,' she said, with a quick intake of the breath and a sigh, drooping her head wearily.
? ? ? ? But she straightened it the next moment. 'Now, don't scold, don't you dare scold,' she cried, with mock defiance.
? ? ? ? 'I hope my face does not appear angry,' I answered seriously; 'for I assure you I am not in the least angry.'
? ? ? ? 'N- no,' she considered. 'It looks only reproachful.'
? ? ? ? 'Then it is an honest face, for it looks what I feel. You were not fair to yourself, nor to me. How can I ever trust you again?'
? ? ? ? She looked penitent.
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