Campbell's greeting was a shade more formal
"You're a very gallant young lady, miss, and I'm proud and honoured to make your acquaintance."
With shining eyes Christine looked from one to the other of them.
"I knew that you wouldn't fail us," she said. Then, coming towards me, she added eagerly: "But what are we waiting for? Why don't we start at once?"
I got up from my chair.
"Christine's right," I cried. "How about your launch, Bobby? Has anything gone wrong with her?"
"Gone wrong with her!" he echoed indignantly. "Of course it hasn't."
"Then why were you late?" I demanded.
"I was kept for an hour at that cursed office. There was some Admiralty business that had to be attended to."
Christine turned to him, her face alight with excitement.