anion-way
and wandered round despondently.

If Esther were on the boat she must have seen him and was deliberately
keeping out of his way; he glanced in at the open door of the ladies'
cabin as he passed.

Several pessimistic souls who had already made up their minds to be
ill, although the sea was like a mill-pond, had arranged themselves on
the couches, with pillows under their heads; as Micky passed the cabin
some one slammed the door smartly in his face.

He went upon deck again and stood looking out to sea, with the wind
stinging his face.

It was getting dark rapidly; the lights of Dover twinkled through the
greyness. Micky stood and watched till they could no longer be seen.
He was chilled to the bone in spite of his warm coat; he turned the
collar up round his throat and thrust his hands deeply into his
pockets.

His fingers came in contact with the telegrams he had written in the
train and forgotten to send. He swore under his breath.

He kept out of the Delands' way when they reached Calais; he was first
off the boat; he stood in the darkness trembling with excitement.

There were all sorts of people pouring past him--men, women, and
children. They all seemed happy and eager--a couple of Frenchmen
standing near him chattered incessantly; Micky moistened his dry lips;
there was a little nerve throbbing in his temple.

Supposing he never saw her again! His hands clenched deep in his
pockets ... supposing he never met the half-shy glance of her grey
eyes--supposing he never heard her voice any more--or her laugh....

The sweat broke out on his forehead. For a moment he closed his eyes
with a sick feeling of hopelessness, and when he opened them again he
saw Esther standing there not half a dozen paces from him.

The glare from a huge arc lamp shone full on her slim figure and
golden hair.

She was looking round her in a scared, apprehensive way as if not
knowing where to go.

A wave of such utter relief swept through Micky's very soul that for a
moment it almost turned him faint.

She was quite alone, but as Micky watched her he saw a French porter
in a blue blouse go up to her and start chattering away, pointing to
the small suit-case she carried and gesticulating violently. Esther
shook her head--Micky remembered that she knew no French--but the man
persisted, and she shook her head again in a frightened sort of way.

Micky covered the distance between them in a couple of strides.

"Esther..