byletterfromhissister，whichhemadeanexcuseforfollowingthem；
buthehadalwaysmeanttoseethemoff，heowned。Theletterhadjustcomewithaspecialdeliverystamp，anditwarnedthemthatshehadsentanothergood-byletterwithsomeflowersonboard。Mrs。Marchscoldedatthemboth，butwithtearsinhereyes，andintherenewedstressofpartingwhichhethoughthehadputfromhim，Marchwentontakingnote，aswithaliensenses，ofthescenebeforehim，whiletheyalltalkedontogether，andrepeatedthenothingstheyhadsaidalready。
Arankodorofbeet-rootsugarrosefromthefar-branchingshedswheresomefreightsteamersofthelinelay，andseemedtominglechemicallywiththenoisewhichcameupfromthewharfnexttotheNorumbia。Themassofspectatorsdeepenedanddimmedawayintotheshadowoftheroofs，andalongtheirfrontcamefilesofcarriagesandtrucksandcarts，anddischargedthearrivingpassengersandtheirbaggage，andwerelostinthecrowd，whichtheypenetratedlikeslowcurrents，becomingcloggedandarrestedfromtimetotime，andthenbeginningtomoveagain。
Thepassengersincessantlymountedbythecanvas-drapedgalleriesleading，foreandaft，intotheship。Bareheaded，blue-jacketed，brass-
buttonedstewardsdodgedskillfullyinandoutamongthemwiththeirhand-bags，holdalls，hat-boxes，andstate-roomtrunks，andranbeforethemintothedifferentdepthsandheightswheretheyhidtheseburdens，andthenranbackformore。Someofthepassengersfollowedthemandmadesurethattheirthingswereputintherightplaces；mostofthemremainedwedgedamongtheearliercomers，orpushedaimlesslyinandoutofthedoorsofthepromenades。