“No hurry at all. It will take her two hours to come in, so we will have plenty of time.”
But Maria was impatient and finally persuaded her father to “go immediately.”
The wait was long, but finally the vessel was tied to the wharf. No one was allowed aboard her, and no one was allowed to leave her, so those on the wharf had to content themselves with picking out from the mass of humanity huddled along the side of the ship, faces which they recognized.
Maria peered anxiously at the people on board, but she saw no Gabriel.
Disappointed, she was almost ready to give up and go home, when her attention was attracted by a tall man violently waving his cap at her.
It was Gabriel, and with a cry of delight, she rushed up closer to the side of the ship.
“Maria minha,” Gabriel shouted.
“Good morning my dear,” she replied in English.