He was a dear, chubby little person in flapping sailor trousers, and he carried a splendidly-caparisoned toy donkey in his arms.

Salter could not help feeling slightly excited himself as they rushed forward.

He wondered if they were passengers who would be left behind.
They were not passengers, but the arrivals Miss Vanderpoel had been expecting so ardently.

They had come to say good-bye to her and were too late for that, at least, as the gangway was just about to be withdrawn.
Miss Vanderpoel leaned forward with an amazingly fervid expression on her face.
"Tommy! Tommy!" she cried to the little boy.

"Here I am, Tommy.