"Sure an' she's headed right for Dublin." Nan tried to give an Irish turn to her sentence.
"You'll never see her again?" Bess was wide-eyed as it suddenly dawned on her that they were saying good-by, perhaps forever, to their shipboard acquaintances.
"Never say that," Nan unconsciously interpreted the lesson Hetty's grandmother had taught so sweetly several days before. "You never know when or where you will meet these people again. Have you kept many addresses?"
"Oh, just dozens," Bess answered. "If I ever hear from a third of them again, I'll be happy."
"I feel the same way," Nan agreed. "Only Maureen, Hetty and Jeanie have all agreed to have tea with us in London. I knew you would all approve." She looked up at Bess.
"Approve? Of course," Bess agreed. "Tea in London with Maureen, Hetty, and Jeanie. Oh, I hope they won't forget."
"They won't," Nan said confidently, as she got up from her place on the floor by her bags. "There, I'm all packed and ready for the steward to come and put the tags on them. Are you?"
"Just a second--yes, I'm all ready, too, now." Bess closed hers. "Let's go up on deck." So they went up and out, and saw, for the first time while on the boat, the sunrise. The sky was full of promise for a bright day.
Even as they watched the light breaking brighter and brighter, the ship's whistle gave three loud blasts. There were three more from shore, and Nan clutched Bess's arm. "See, there it is--Ireland, the coast of Ireland. See the lights?"
"Sure an' 'tis me home," Maureen had come up behind them, "the grandest place in all the world."
"What county is that?" Nan looked to Maureen for information.
"I'm not so certain," Maureen replied, "but I'm after thinking that that's the coast of Donegal, and a lovelier spot you'll not find for many miles. Beyond lies Londonderry and after that you'll be seeing Portrush and then at last Belfast! It's beauty, beauty all the way.
"Your America, it's fine and grand with all its tall buildings and great cities, but me heart is warm for Ireland. There me mother and father and little brothers and sisters will be waiting. Oh, it's good to be back." Maureen wiped tears from her eyes.
"Come, Maureen," Nan and Bess were close to tears too, for her pang of homesickness had turned their own thoughts back to America. "Come, let's go down into the dining room. Let's see if we can find one big table so that we can all have this last breakfast together." As she finished speaking, Nan tucked Maureen's arm through hers and started.