She cannot walk
to the shore. She cannot sit in an open boat in winter weather."

"You are right. I will let her try. She may endure conviction by such
means."

"I will go with you to help her home."

"That is well; but you are feeble yourself."

"I am, sir; but I must try what I can do." Lady Carse was over the
threshold within the ten minutes, followed by Helsa with a bundle of
clothes. She cast a glance of fiery triumph back at the dwelling, and
round the whole desolate scene. For a few steps she walked firmly, then
she silently accepted the President's arm. Further on, she was glad to
have Helsa's on the other side.

"Let me advise you to return," said the President, pausing when the
descent became steeper. "By recruiting here till the spring, you--"

"I will recruit elsewhere, thank you. When I once get into the boat I
shall do very well. It is only this steep descent, and the treacherous
footing."

She could not speak further. All her strength was required to keep
herself from falling between her two supporters. "You will not do
better in the boat. You mistake your condition," said the President.
"Plainly, my conviction is, that if you proceed you will die."

"I shall not. I will not. If I stay, I shall not see another day. If
I go, I may live to seventy. You do not know me, my lord. You are not
entitled to speak of the power of my will."

The President and the widow exchanged glances, and no further opposition
was offered.

"We may as well spare your strength, however," said the President. "The
boatmen shall carry you. I will call them. Oh! I see. You are afraid
I should give you the slip. But you may release my skirts. Your
servants will do us the favour to go forward and send us help."

The boatmen looked gloomy about conveying two women--one of them
evidently very ill; and Sir Alexander would have refused in any other
case whatever. But he had vowed to interfere no more in Lady Carse's
affairs, but to consider her wholly the President's charge.

"I see your opinion in your face," said the President to him, "and I
entirely agree with you. But she is just about to die, at all events;
and if it is an indulgence to her to die in the exercise of a freedom
from which she has been debarred so long, I am not disposed to deny it
to her. I assume the responsibility."

"My doubt is about the men," observed Sir Alexander; "but I will do what
I can."

He did what he could by sh