"But it almost makes me unhappy," he added, "to think how nearly we have missed each other.

If I had only known in the beginning that you were not Mrs.Edward Ruggles!" Mary laughed joyously.

The mistake which a moment before had seemed almost tragic now appeared delightfully funny.
"The explanation is painfully simple," she answered.

"Mrs.Edward Ruggles--the real one--did expect to come on the Vaterland, whereas I did not.

But the day before the steamer sailed she was summoned to Andover by the serious illness of her only son, who is at school there.
I took her ticket, got ready overnight--I like to start on these unpremeditated journeys--and here I am." John put his arm about her to make sure of this, and kept it there--lest he should forget.