Stafford bit his lip and tried to pull himself together; but his eyes
were still fixed on the pale face, the girlish, black-clad figure, and
his voice was shaky, as he said: "You're right, Mr. Joffler. It is too late now. I--I thought I saw
someone on the quay there. But it must have been fancy; it is impossible,
quite impossible!"
"That's it," said Mr. Joffler, with a sympathetic wink. "Lor' love you,
I've had them kind o' fancies myself, especially after a hot night on
shore. If you'd only take a pull at this, you'd be all right directly.
It don't do to come aboard too sober, 'specially when you're leavin'
old England for the first time. Do you see 'em now?"
Ida had moved away, and Stafford drew a long breath and forced a smile.
"No," he said, huskily, and almost to himself. "Yes; it must have been
fancy. She could not have been there. It is impossible!"
Mr. Joffler whistled and winked to himself comprehendingly.
"She!'" he murmured. "Ah, that's it, is it? Ah, well I've been there
myself! Don't you let the fancy upset you, sir! It 'ull pass afore we
gets into the open. Nothing like the sea for teachin' you to forget
gals you've left behind you! Come down below and try and peck a bit.
There's cold beef--_and_ pickles. That'll send them kind o' fancies to
the right about."
Ida turned and walked quickly away. Her head swam, she looked like one
in a dream. It was, of course, impossible that the man she had seen
could be Stafford: Stafford on board a cattle-ship! But the
hallucination had made her feel faint and ill. She remembered that she
had eaten nothing since yesterday at noon, and she ascribed this freak
of her imagination to the weakness caused by want of food.
She left the quay slowly--as if her heart and her strength and all her
life's hope had gone with the dingy vessel--and emerging on the narrow,
crowded street, looked for some shop at which she could buy a roll of
bread. Presently she saw a baker's at the opposite side of the road to
that on which she was walking, and she was crossing, when a huge empty
van came lumbering round the corner. She drew back to let it pass; and,
as she did so, a lighter cart came swiftly upon her. She was so dazed,
so bewildered by the vision she had seen, and the noise of the street,
that she stood, hesitating, uncertain whether to go on or retreat to
the pavement she had left.