Stephen had not known that she was waiting. "Any moment now, I believe," he said. "I will go in and see what is keeping him."
He returned in a few seconds. "A matter of clothing," he said with a smile. "I warned you that there would be a complete character change."
The garments were supplied. Stephen took them in. The floodlight had been turned off now, and it was fairly dark in the tent.
"Hurry up," Stephen said gently.
"I can't—I cannot do it!"
"Oh, but you can. You can start all over now. Few of the colonists ever knew you by sight. I am sure that you will be warmly enough received."
Stephen came out. Ellen searched his face. "It will not be much longer now," he told her.
"And to think that I doubted you!"
"I am only a technician," he said.
"There are one hundred and sixty-two male high scientists upon this island," she said, coming forward and putting her arms around him, "but only one, solid, unimaginative, blessed technician. It makes a nice, even arrangement for us women, don't you think?"