“In my stateroom, dear father, fast asleep. Will you come down with me and see her?”
“Yes, dear.”
The father and daughter struggled through the pressing crowd, and made their way slowly and with difficulty down into the cabin, which was now all “upside down” with ladies and ladies’ maids, and gentlemen and valets, stewards and stewardesses, getting together their “traps” and making ready to go on shore.
Jennie took her father directly to her stateroom, where the pretty babe lay sleeping on the lower berth.
Jennie lifted the babe and placed it in her father’s arms.
The minister received the child, raised his eyes, and solemnly invoked God’s blessing on it, then stooped and pressed a kiss upon its brow. Finally he returned the babe to its mother, saying:
“Wrap her up, my dear. We must hurry, or we shall miss the first return trip of the tender and have to wait for the second, which would cause us to lose our train.”
Jennie quickly folded the baby in the warm white cloak and hood which had been given her by the Duncan children.
“Now I will take her again and carry her for you. Do you take up your hand-bag and parasol. I will speak to have the other things brought after us,” said Mr. Campbell, as he led the way to the deck, carrying the babe, and followed by his daughter.
The passengers had all left the steamer.