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They were on dry land again。
But at that moment Janey's head came round the corner。
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〃Darlingdo you mind？ I just want to go and say good…bye to the
doctor。〃
Hammond started up。 〃I'll come with you。〃
〃No； no！〃 she said。 〃Don't bother。 I'd rather not。 I'll not be a
minute。〃
And before he could answer she was gone。 He had half a mind to run
after her； but instead he sat down again。
Would she really not be long？ What was the time now？ Out came
the watch； he stared at nothing。 That was rather queer of Janey； wasn't it？
Why couldn't she have told the stewardess to say good…bye for her？ Why
did she have to go chasing after the ship's doctor？ She could have sent a
note from the hotel even if the affair had been urgent。 Urgent？ Did it
could it mean that she had been ill on the voyageshe was keeping
something from him？ That was it！ He seized his hat。 He was going
off to find that fellow and to wring the truth out of him at all costs。 He
thought he'd noticed just something。 She was just a touch too calmtoo
steady。 From the very first moment
The curtains rang。 Janey was back。 He jumped to his feet。
〃Janey； have you been ill on this voyage？ You have！〃
〃Ill？〃 Her airy little voice mocked him。 She stepped over the rugs；
and came up close； touched his breast； and looked up at him。
〃Darling；〃 she said； 〃don't frighten me。 Of course I haven't！
Whatever makes you think I have？ Do I look ill？〃
But Hammond didn't see her。 He only felt that she was looking at
him and that there was no need to worry about anything。 She was here to
look after things。 It was all right。 Everything was。
The gentle pressure of her hand was so calming that he put his over
hers to hold it there。 And she said：
〃Stand still。 I want to look at you。 I haven't seen you yet。 You've
had your beard beautifully trimmed； and you lookyounger； I think； and
decidedly thinner！ Bachelor life agrees with you。〃
〃Agrees with me！〃 He groaned for love and caught her close again。
And again； as always； he had the feeling that he was holding something
that never was quite hishis。 Something too delicate； too precious； that
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would fly away once he let go。
〃For God's sake let's get off to the hotel so that we can be by
ourselves！〃 And he rang the bell hard for some one to look sharp with
the luggage。
。。。
Walking down the wharf together she took his arm。 He had her on
his arm again。 And the difference it made to get into the cab after Janey
to throw the red…and…yellow striped blanket round them bothto tell the
driver to hurry because neither of them had had any tea。 No more going
without his tea or pouring out his own。 She was back。 He turned to her；
squeezed her hand； and said gently； teasingly； in the 〃special〃 voice he had
for her： 〃Glad to be home again； dearie？〃 She smiled； she didn't even
bother to answer； but gently she drew his hand away as they came to the
brighter streets。
〃We've got the best room in the hotel；〃 he said。 〃I wouldn't be put off
with another。 And I asked the chambermaid to put in a bit of a fire in
case you felt chilly。 She's a nice； attentive girl。 And I thought now we
were here we wouldn't bother to go home to…morrow； but spend the day
looking round and leave the morning after。 Does that suit you？ There's
no hurry； is there？ The children will have you soon enough。。。I thought a
day's sight…seeing might make a nice break in your journeyeh； Janey？〃
〃Have you taken the tickets for the day after？〃 she asked。
〃I should think I have！〃 He unbuttoned his overcoat and took out his
bulging pocket…book。 〃Here we are！ I reserved a first…class carriage to
Cooktown。 There it is'Mr。 and Mrs。 John Hammond。' I thought we
might as well do ourselves comfortably； and we don't want other people
butting in； do we？ But if you'd like to stop here a bit longer？〃
〃Oh； no！〃 said Janey quickly。 〃Not for the world！ The day after to…
morrow； then。 And the children〃
But they had reached the hotel。 The manager was standing in the
broad； brilliantly…lighted porch。 He came down to greet them。 A porter
ran from the hall for their boxes。
〃Well； Mr。 Arnold； here's Mrs。 Hammond at last！〃
The manager led them through the hall himself and pressed the
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elevator… bell。 Hammond knew there were business pals of his sitting at
the little hall tables having a drink before dinner。 But he wasn't going to
risk interruption； he looked neither to the right nor the left。 They could
think what they pleased。 If they didn't understand； the more fools they
and he stepped out of the lift； unlocked the door of their room； and
shepherded Janey in。 The door shut。 Now； at last； they were alone
together。 He turned up the light。 The curtains were drawn； the fire
blazed。 He flung his hat on to the huge bed and went towards her。
Butwould you believe it！again they were interrupted。 This time it
was the porter with the luggage。 He made two journeys of it； leaving the
door open in between； taking his time； whistling through his teeth in the
corridor。 Hammond paced up and down the room； tearing off his gloves；
tearing off his scarf。 Finally he flung his overcoat on to the bedside。
At last the fool was gone。 The door clicked。 Now they were alone。
Said Hammond： 〃I feel I'll never have you to myself again。 These
cursed people！ Janey〃and he bent his flushed； eager gaze upon her
〃let's have dinner up here。 If we go down to the restaurant we'll be
interrupted； and then there's the confounded music〃 （the music he'd
praised so