But Katrina was not allowed to cling to this hope long! In a moment
Glory Goldie cried out in a jubilant voice:
"Here's the boat, mother! So after all it has turned out well for us, and now we'll soon be off."
When Katrina saw the boat at the pier her old eyes filled up. She had intended to ask Sexton Blackie to say a good word for Jan and herself to Glory Goldie, but now there was no time. She saw no way of escaping the journey.
The boat was evidently late, for she seemed to be in a great hurry to get away again. There was not even time to put out the gangplank. A couple of hapless passengers who had to come ashore here were almost thrown onto the pier by the sailors. Glory Goldie seized her mother by the arm and dragged her over to the boat, where a man lifted her on board. The old woman wept and wanted to turn back, but no pity was shown her.
The instant Katrina was on deck Glory Goldie put her arm around her, to steady her.
"Come, let's go over to the other side of the boat," she said.
But it was too late. Old Katrina had just caught sight of a man running down the hill toward the pier. And she knew who it was, too!
"It's Jan!" she cried. "Oh, what will he do now!"
Jan did not stop until he reached the very edge of the pier; but there he stood—a frail and pathetic figure. He saw Glory Goldie on the outgoing boat and greater anguish and despair than were depicted on his face could hardly be imagined. But the sight of him was all Katrina needed to give her the strength to defy her daughter.
"You can go if you want to," she said. "But I shall get off at the next landing and go home again."