Miriam and Sep had reached the rectory garden first, and now stood waiting for him.

He came on in silence.

Last time--on "The Last Hope"-- he had come up the river singing.
Sep waved his hand, and, in response, Barebone nodded his head, with one eye peering ahead, for the breeze was fresh.
The old chain was still there, imperfectly fastened round a tottering post at the foot of the tide-washed steps.

It clinked as he made fast the boat.

Miriam had not heard the sound of it since that night, long ago, when Loo had gone down the steps in the dark and cast off.
"I was given a passage home in a French fishing-boat, and borrowed their dinghy to come ashore in," said Loo, as he came up the steps.