Yet for a touch of such sweet madness now, when all young nature was strung to a delicious contest, and the blood spun through the veins full of life! Our boat lay motionless on the sea, and the setting sun caught the undergrowth of red-brown hair that shot through Barbara's dark locks.

My own state was, I must confess, less fair to look on.
I controlled my voice to a cold steadiness, as I wrung the water from my clothes.
"This is a mighty silly business, Mistress Barbara," said I.
I had angled for a new outburst of fury, my catch was not what I looked for.

Her hands were stretched out towards me, and her face, pale and tearful, pleaded with me.
"Simon, Simon, you were drowning! Through my--my folly! Oh, will you ever forgive me?
If--if you had come to hurt, I wouldn't have lived." "Yet you were running away from me." "I didn't dream that you'd follow.

Indeed I didn't think that you'd risk death." Then her eyes seemed to fall on my dripping clothes.

In an instant she snatched up the cloak that lay by her, and held it towards me, crying "Wrap yourself in it." "Nay, keep your cloak," said I, "I shall be warm enough with rowing.