He recovered his equanimity; the world was serene again.
With a sharp pull the cabman brought up at the ferry and Hugh took his stand among those waiting for the boat to disgorge its load of passengers.
At that moment a thought struck him, and acting on it, he called out: "Hi! porter!" "Here, sir!" "Where can I get some note paper ?" "All right, sir!" and in an instant a pad of paper was forthcoming.
Hugh took out his pencil and wrote a brief note.

Then, in a low voice, he said: "Here, porter! I want you to do something for me." "Yes, sir!" "I'll make it worth your while, but I won't hare you attending to any one else--understand ?" The porter demonstrated with a nod his perfect comprehension of what was required, and there followed from his employer a minute description of the lady.
"Young, slight, tall, fair, black hat and veil, and--" "In mourning, sir, undoubtedly ?" "Mourning! No, of course not.

Cannot a lady wear black without being in mourning ?" Hugh expostulated sharply.
"Certainly, sir; but generally--" Whatever costume the worldly-wise porter would have approved as _en regle_ for a lady, under conditions to his thinking so obviously indiscreet, the description was forestalled by the ingenuous young man, who, dissimilarly apprehensive and oblivious to the innuendo, was heard to grumble: "What on earth is the matter with people?
Everybody seems to delight in painting this most delectable of undertakings in the most funereal colors!" and went on anxiously: "You're sure you won't miss, her ?" With an indulgent smile for the youth and inexperience of his patron, and glancing surreptitiously at the size of the bill in his hand, the attendant calmly announced that there was not the faintest possibility of an error.

He took his position a little to the right of and behind Hugh, like an adjutant at dress parade.

Through the ferry rushed the weary, impatient travellers.