“I don’t think so,” Nan was a little worried too. “But let’s hurry and get out of here. I wouldn’t miss seeing Maureen off for anything.”
“Oh, is she getting off here?” Bess took one last look around the cabin to see whether she had all her belongings.
“Sure an’ she’s headed right for Dublin.” Nan tried to give an Irish turn to her sentence.
“You’ll never see her again?” Bess was wide-eyed as it suddenly dawned on her that they were saying good-by, perhaps forever, to their shipboard acquaintances.
“Never say that,” Nan unconsciously interpreted the lesson Hetty’s grandmother had taught so sweetly several days before. “You never know when or where you will meet these people again. Have you kept many addresses?”
“Oh, just dozens,” Bess answered. “If I ever hear from a third of them again, I’ll be happy.”
“I feel the same way,” Nan agreed. “Only Maureen, Hetty and Jeanie have all agreed to have tea with us in London. I knew you would all approve.” She looked up at Bess.
“Approve? Of course,” Bess agreed. “Tea in London with Maureen, Hetty, and Jeanie. Oh, I hope they won’t forget.”
“They won’t,” Nan said confidently, as she got up from her place on the floor by her bags. “There, I’m all packed and ready for the steward to come and put the tags on them. Are you?”
“Just a second—yes, I’m all ready, too, now.” Bess closed hers. “Let’s go up on deck.” So they went up and out, and saw, for the first time while on the boat, the sunrise. The sky was full of promise for a bright day.