When everything was arranged to suit her, dressed plainly but very neatly in her mourning garments, she made ready to return to her humble position, and to carry out the plans which she had laid down.
Captain Smith, standing by the gangway-plank of his steamer, was surprised one day to see her come on board, and grasping her extended hand, he cried out:
“Heaven bless you, young lady. There’s a little woman who never goes to bed at night now, without a thankful prayer on her lips for Miss Hattie Butler, who saved a loving husband for her. And a girl, almost as old as you, but not half as handsome, and four other children, who have your name on their lips, and who speak of nothing but the hope that they will some day meet you and be able to thank you for keeping a father on earth for them, through the mercy of the Father above.”
All this the captain was saying as he led our heroine to the best state-room on the boat, and told her, too, that there was every promise of a beautiful night ahead, and a fine run.
“You found that my card took the place of tickets, didn’t you?” he asked, as he called the chambermaid to wait on one whom he considered a guest rather than a passenger.
“You’ll forgive me, captain, I know,” she answered, “when I tell you I gave your card to a poor weeping widow woman whose pocket had been picked in the depot, and who had not even a ticket to come on with.”
Georgiana did not add that she gave the poor woman fifty dollars in cash also.
“It was just like you, and I can’t blame you. I’d have helped her myself,” said the good captain. “It’s a kind of a Smith’s failing to put their hands in their pockets when they see any one in distress, and not to take their hands out of their pockets empty.”
And now, having his duties to perform, the captain excused himself, and our heroine made herself comfortable for the trip.
When the steamer started, our heroine went upon the upper deck to enjoy the air and view, and having asked the captain as a favor not to speak of her being the person who had notified him of his danger on that stormy trip, she felt safe from undue notice.