She looked at Jimmy enquiringly.  Mrs. Pett had not informed her of Mr. Pett’s telephone call, so Jimmy, she realised, had to be explained to her.  She waited for some one to say something.

Mr. Pett undertook the introduction.

“Jimmy, this is my niece, Ann Chester.  This is Jimmy Crocker, Ann.”

Jimmy could not admire sufficiently the start of surprise which she gave.  It was artistic and convincing.

“Jimmy Crocker!”

Mr. Pett was on the point of mentioning that this was not the first time Ann had met Jimmy, but refrained.  After all, that interview had happened five years ago.  Jimmy had almost certainly forgotten all about it.  There was no use in making him feel unnecessarily awkward.  It was up to Ann.  If she wanted to disinter the ancient grievance, let her.  It was no business of his.

“I thought you weren’t coming over!” said Ann.

“I changed my mind.”

Mr. Pett, who had been gazing attentively at them, uttered an exclamation.

“I’ve got it!  I’ve been trying all this while to think where it was that I saw you before.  It was on the Atlantic!”

Ann caught Jimmy’s eye.  She was relieved to see that he was not disturbed by this sudden development.

“Did you come over on the Atlantic, Mr. Crocker?” she said.  “Surely not?  We crossed on her ourselves.  We should have met.”

“Don’t call me Mr. Crocker,” said Jimmy.  “Call me Jimmy.  Your mother’s brother’s wife’s sister’s second husband is my father.  Blood is thicker than water.  No, I came over on the Caronia.  We docked this morning.”

“Well, there was a fellow just like you on the Atlantic,” persisted Mr. Pett.

Mrs. Pett said nothing.  She was watching Jimmy with a keen and suspicious eye.

“I suppose I’m a common type,” said Jimmy.

“You remember the man I mean,” said Mr. Pett, innocently unconscious of the unfriendly thoughts he was encouraging in two of his hearers.  “He sat two tables away from us at meals.  You remember him, Nesta?”

“As I was too unwell to come to meals, I do not.”

“Why, I thought I saw you once talking to him on deck, Ann.”

“Really?” said Ann.  “I don’t remember any one who looked at all like Jimmy.”

“Well,” said Mr. Pett, puzzled.  “It’s very strange.  I guess I’m wrong.”  He looked at his watch.  “Well, I’ll have to be getting back to the office.”

“I’ll come with you part of the way, uncle Pete,” said Jimmy.  “I have to go and arrange for my things to be expressed here.”

“Why not phone to the hotel?” said Mr. Pett.  It seemed to Jimmy and Ann that he was doing this sort of thing on purpose.  “Which hotel did you leave them at?”

“No, I shall have to go there.  I have some packing to do.”

“You will be back to lunch?” said Ann.

“Thanks.  I shan’t be gone more than half an hour.”