'And Mr. Swancourt particularly wishes to go by himself.
So that shall settle the matter.'
The vicar, now a drab colour, was put ashore, and became as well
as ever forthwith.
Elfride, sitting alone in a retired part of the vessel, saw a
veiled woman walk aboard among the very latest arrivals at this
port. She was clothed in black silk, and carried a dark shawl
upon her arm. The woman, without looking around her, turned to
the quarter allotted to the second-cabin passengers. All the
carnation Mrs. Swancourt had complimented her step-daughter upon
possessing left Elfride's cheeks, and she trembled visibly.
She ran to the other side of the boat, where Mrs. Swancourt was
standing.
'Let us go home by railway with papa, after all,' she pleaded
earnestly. 'I would rather go with him--shall we?'
Mrs. Swancourt looked around for a moment, as if unable to decide.
'Ah,' she exclaimed, 'it is too late now. Why did not you say so
before, when we had plenty of time?'
The Juliet had at that minute let go, the engines had started, and
they were gliding slowly away from the quay. There was no help
for it but to remain, unless the Juliet could be made to put back,
and that would create a great disturbance. Elfride gave up the
idea and submitted quietly. Her happiness was sadly mutilated
now.
The woman whose presence had so disturbed her was exactly like
Mrs. Jethway. She seemed to haunt Elfride like a shadow.
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