know the captain."

"Yes?" It was a question.

"Well, I guess 't you can come. Good night, my dear." He bent and kissed
her gravely.

Her eyes followed the tall figure till it loomed away in the dark.

XIX

The boat eased away from the wharf. The invalid on deck gazed back at
the city. A little spot of red lay in the hollow of either cheek. Uncle
William hovered about, adjusting pillows and rugs. Now and then his eye
dropped to the wharf and picked out, casually, a figure that moved in
the crowd. "There--that's a leetle mite easier, ain't it?"

The young man nodded almost fretfully. "I'm all right, Uncle William.
Don't you fuss any more." He leaned forward, looking toward the wharf.
"Who is that?"

Uncle William pushed up his spectacles and peered. "I don't seem to see
anybody," he said truthfully. He was gazing with some painstaking in the
opposite direction.

"Not there. Look!--She's gone!" He sank back with a sigh.

"Somebody you knew, like enough?" The question was indifferent.

"I thought it was--her."

"She, now! She wouldn't be likely to be down here this time o' day."

"No, I suppose not. It was just a fancy."

"That's all. You comf'tabul?"

"Yes--" a little impatiently.

"That's good. Now we're off." Uncle William beamed on the water that
billowed before and behind. He went off to find the captain.

When he came back, the young man had ceased to look toward the shore. "I
made a mistake," he said regretfully.

"That's nateral," said Uncle William. "I s'pose you've been thinkin'
of her, off and on, and you jest thought you saw her. I wouldn't think
any--"

"It wasn't that," the young man broke in. "I _did_ see her. I know now.
I saw her face for a minute as plain as I see yours. She was looking
straight at me and I saw all of a sudden what a fool I was."

"You're getting better," said Uncle William.

"Do you think so? I was afraid--" he hesitated.

"You thought mebbe you was a-goin' to die?"

"Well--I have heard that people see clearly--It came over me in a flash
so--"

"Lord, no!" Uncle William chuckled. "You're jest gettin' your wits back,
that's all. I shouldn't wonder if you'd be real pert by the time we get
there. I cal'ate you'll be considabul help to me--dish-washin' an' so
on."

The towers and chimneys behind them dwindled. The smoke of the city
faded to a blur and grew to clear azure. The wind blew against their
faces. After a little the young man got to his feet. "I