The beauty of it almost overcame the terror with Lilian as she grasped
her mother's hand.
"It is a fit gate to enter heaven by," said John, coming to her side.
"We have done all we can," he added.
At the moment the bows dipped with a prodigious sea. Somebody forward
sang out, "She's settling, sir! she's settling, sir!" The cry ran
along the deck like fire: there was one panicstricken shriek that
followed, and the men had jumped for the boats, into which water and
provision had been already thrown. Reyburn came staggering up the
companion-way with Helen. The dingy and one of the quarter-boats were
already swamped in the wild haste: the men were crowding into the
other, which had been safely lowered.
"You brutes!" the captain shouted, "are you going to leave the women?"
"Let them come, then," answered a voice, "and make haste about it;"
and Lilian found herself drawn forward and looking over the side into
the shadow below.
"Are you going, John?" she said hurriedly.
"No, darling: it is impossible, you see, but--"
"Nor I, either," she answered quickly.
"Lilian!"
"No," she said, "no! We were to be together in life, and we shall be
in death. Oh, John, do you think I can leave you now?"
"Make haste about it," was repeated harshly from the boat.
"I am going to stay," repeated Lilian firmly.
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