human heart.

Into Katrine's soul in its turn stole some portion of this noble
fortitude; she ceased to struggle, and stood silently by Bedford's side
awaiting her call. The women filed slowly by, were lifted one by one
and swung into the boat. Suddenly Bedford turned towards her, grasping
both hands. In his face she read that the parting had come.

"Katrine! Good-bye..."

Strong aims seized her, she was lifted high, dropped, and caught. There
came to, her aid a merciful unconsciousness...

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

Katrine lay dazed and senseless, a huddled mass in a corner of the boat,
mercifully oblivious of the perilous lowering down the great hull of the
ship, of the gradual leaving behind of all that was most dear. The
climax of emotion through which she had passed, had exhausted for the
time being all power of sensation. While not actually unconscious, her
mind was torpid. Nothing mattered, her very powers of fear were at an
end. What was past, was past, what would come, would come; nothing
mattered the cast of a die!

In the boat were women, dazed like herself, others again weeping and
lamenting; others, like Mrs Mannering, composed and brisk, showing at
their best, when those from whom more might have been expected proved
broken reeds.

It was all dream-like and unreal. Tossed on the waves in the crowded
boat, the great hull of the ship looked a rampart of strength. To have
left that stronghold to toss in this cockleshell--the dazed brain
marvelled feebly at such inconsistency. High on the deck a confused
mass of people moved to and fro, but their faces were indistinguishable,
and soon vanished from sight. The sounds of a voice shouting peremptory
orders mingled with the dashing of the waves, but soon that also became
inaudible, as the boat floated farther and farther away.

Katrine sat motionless, oblivious of all that was happening around. The
hood of her coat had fallen back from her head and her bleached face had
a fixed, almost terrible beauty. Nancy Mannering glanced at her
anxiously from time to time, and finally shook her strongly by the arm.

"Now! Brace up, Katrine!" cried the strong voice, "brace up! It don't
matter much what happens to you and to me, my dear. We are just women--
unattached women at that--there are too many of our sort knocking
around, but here's some one here who _does_ count--a little man for you
to cuddle and protect! Heaven knows the kind he'll grow