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〃Seen her？〃 asked the harbour…master。
〃No； not yet。 Steadywait a bit！〃 And suddenly； between two great
clumsy idiots〃Get out of the way there！〃 he signed with his umbrellahe
saw a hand raiseda white glove shaking a handkerchief。 Another
moment； and thank God； thank God！there she was。 There was Janey。
There was Mrs。 Hammond； yes； yes； yesstanding by the rail and smiling
and nodding and waving her handkerchief。
〃Well that's first classfirst class！ Well； well； well！〃 He positively
stamped。 Like lightning he drew out his cigar…case and offered it to old
Captain Johnson。 〃Have a cigar； Captain！ They're pretty good。 Have
a couple！ Here〃and he pressed all the cigars in the case on the harbour…
master〃I've a couple of boxes up at the hotel。〃
〃Thenks； Mr。 Hammond！〃 wheezed old Captain Johnson。
Hammond stuffed the cigar…case back。 His hands were shaking； but
he'd got hold of himself again。 He was able to face Janey。 There she
was； leaning on the rail； talking to some woman and at the same time
watching him； ready for him。 It struck him； as the gulf of water closed；
how small she looked on that huge ship。 His heart was wrung with such
a spasm that he could have cried out。 How little she looked to have come
all that long way and back by herself！ Just like her； though。 Just like
Janey。 She had the courage of aAnd now the crew had come forward
and parted the passengers； they had lowered the rails for the gangways。
The voices on shore and the voices on board flew to greet each other。
〃All well？〃
〃All well。〃
〃How's mother？〃
〃Much better。〃
〃Hullo； Jean！〃
〃Hillo； Aun' Emily！〃
〃Had a good voyage？〃
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〃Splendid！〃
〃Shan't be long now！〃
〃Not long now。〃
The engines stopped。 Slowly she edged to the wharf…side。
〃Make way theremake waymake way！〃 And the wharf hands
brought the heavy gangways along at a sweeping run。 Hammond signed
to Janey to stay where she was。 The old harbour…master stepped forward；
he followed。 As to 〃ladies first；〃 or any rot like that； it never entered his
head。
〃After you； Captain！〃 he cried genially。 And； treading on the old
man's heels； he strode up the gangway on to the deck in a bee…line to Janey；
and Janey was clasped in his arms。
〃Well； well； well！ Yes； yes！ Here we are at last！〃 he stammered。
It was all he could say。 And Janey emerged； and her cool little voicethe
only voice in the world for himsaid；
〃Well； darling！ Have you been waiting long？〃
No； not long。 Or； at any rate； it didn't matter。 It was over now。
But the point was； he had a cab waiting at the end of the wharf。 Was she
ready to go off。 Was her luggage ready？ In that case they could cut off
sharp with her cabin luggage and let the rest go hang until to…morrow。
He bent over her and she looked up with her familiar half…smile。 She
was just the same。 Not a day changed。 Just as he'd always known her。
She laid her small hand on his sleeve。
〃How are the children； John？〃 she asked。
（Hang the children！） 〃Perfectly well。 Never better in their lives。〃
〃Haven't they sent me letters？〃
〃Yes； yesof course！ I've left them at the hotel for you to digest later
on。〃
〃We can't go quite so fast；〃 said she。 〃I've got people to say good…bye
toand then there's the Captain。〃 As his face fell she gave his arm a
small understanding squeeze。 〃If the Captain comes off the bridge I want
you to thank him for having looked after your wife so beautifully。〃 Well；
he'd got her。 If she wanted another ten minutesAs he gave way she was
surrounded。 The whole first…class seemed to want to say good…bye to
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Janey。
〃Good…bye； dear Mrs。 Hammond！ And next time you're in Sydney
I'll expect you。〃
〃Darling Mrs。 Hammond！ You won't forget to write to me； will
you？〃
〃Well； Mrs。 Hammond； what this boat would have been without you！〃
It was as plain as a pikestaff that she was by far the most popular
woman on board。 And she took it alljust as usual。 Absolutely
composed。 Just her little selfjust Janey all over； standing there with her
veil thrown back。 Hammond never noticed what his wife had on。 It
was all the same to him whatever she wore。 But to…day he did notice that
she wore a black 〃costume〃didn't they call it？with white frills；
trimmings he supposed they were； at the neck and sleeves。 All this while
Janey handed him round。
〃John； dear！〃 And then： 〃I want to introduce you to〃
Finally they did escape； and she led the way to her state…room。 To
follow Janey down the passage that she knew so wellthat was so strange
to him； to part the green curtains after her and to step into the cabin that
had been hers gave him exquisite happiness。 Butconfound it！the
stewardess was there on the floor； strapping up the rugs。
〃That's the last； Mrs。 Hammond；〃 said the stewardess； rising and
pulling down her cuffs。
He was introduced again； and then Janey and the stewardess
disappeared into the passage。 He heard whisperings。 She was getting
the tipping business over； he supposed。 He sat down on the striped sofa
and took his hat off。 There were the rugs she had taken with her； they
looked good as new。 All her luggage looked fresh； perfect。 The labels
were written in her beautiful little clear hand〃Mrs。 John Hammond。〃
〃Mrs。 John Hammond！〃 He gave a long sigh of content and leaned
back； crossing his arms。 The strain was over。 He felt he could have sat
there for ever sighing his reliefthe relief at being rid of that horrible tug；
pull； grip on his heart。 The danger was over。 That was the feeling。
They were on dry land again。
But at that moment Janey's head came round the corn