The following version of this story was used to create this guide: Mansfield, Katherine. "The Voyage." Katherine Mansfield Society Online. https://www.katherinemansfieldsociety.org/assets/KM-Stories/THE-VOYAGE1921.pdf.

Note that all parenthetical citations refer to the page number on which the quotation appears.

The story begins one night in Wellington, New Zealand. Fenella Crane is being ushered toward the boat bound for Picton by her father and grandmother. Both her father and grandmother appear rushed and nervous. When they reach the boat, Fenella's father hands her grandmother their luggage and hugs his mother goodbye. Fenella is confused when her father hands her a shilling. She wonders how long she will be living with her grandparents.

Fenella's father leaves, and the boat pulls away. Fenella and her grandmother make their way to their cabin, which is very small. They undress and the stewardess comes to check on them. She notices they are both wearing black and expresses her condolences to Fenella's grandmother. They get into their beds, with grandmother taking the top bunk. Eventually they hit rough water, and the stewardess checks on them once again.

In the morning, Fenella wakes early and sees land from their window. She and her grandmother go outside. It is very cold in Picton. Mr. Penreddy, a family friend, picks them up from the boat and takes them into town. They pull up to Fenella's grandparents' house. Inside, Fenella's grandfather is lying in bed. Fenella notices a quote from a poem framed above the bed, and her grandfather tells her that her grandmother painted it.