It was so great a relief to him that he hardly noticed that she stood ankle-deep in the river to do it.

She wore a little red tartan shawl upon her shoulders, and she dipped this also in the river, binding it round and round the ankle, and tying it tight with her own boot-lace.
'Thank you,' said he; 'you are really very good, Mam'selle Zilda.' She stood beside him; she was radiantly happy, but she did not show it much.

She had him there very safe; it mattered less to her how to get him away; yet in a minute she said-- 'Monsieur had better move a little higher up; he is very uncomfortable.' He knew that much better than she, but he had borne all the pain he could just then.

He nodded as if in dismissal of the idea.

'Presently.
But, in the meantime, Zilda, sit down and see what a beautiful place this is; you have not looked at it.' So she found a stone to sit on, and immediately her eyes were opened and she saw the loveliness around her.
The river was not a very broad one, but ah! how blue it was, with a glint of gold on every wave.