‘I believe you have some ships going to New Zealand shortly,’ stammered Iris, who was too shy to mention the _Pandora_ all at once. ‘Can I see a list of the passengers?’ ‘Certainly, miss. Four of our vessels leave the docks next week. We have the _Hindustan_, the _Trevelyan_, and the _Pandora_, which all carry passengers. Do you require a berth?’ ‘Yes!--I think so,’ replied Iris. ‘That is, I want to see the passenger list before I decide.’ ‘Very good, miss! Samuels, hand me down the passenger list of the _Hindustan_, Captain Davis. We have four saloon berths vacant here you see, miss, and three second. She will not carry any steerage. This is a plan of the vessel,’ continued the clerk, unrolling a sheet of parchment. ‘These after-cabin berths--’ But Iris pushed it gently to one side. ‘I--I--think I would rather see the passenger list of the _Pandora_,’ she said, with a blush that was visible even through her veil, and the clerk, with a wink at his neighbour, passed the desired paper across the counter. ‘The _Pandora_ has her full complement of first-class passengers, so I’m afraid you won’t find anything to suit you there, as there is only a second cabin vacant, miss,’ continued the clerk. ‘She carries steerage, but, of course, that is no use to you.’ ‘I don’t know--I don’t know,’ replied Iris, almost hysterically, as she perused the passenger list of the _Pandora_. In a moment her quick eye had caught the names of Mr and Mrs Vansittart and Miss Vansittart, and then travelled to the bottom of the paper where that of _Mr Godfrey Harland_ was visibly inscribed. She had expected it, and yet was not prepared for it, and as it met her sight and confirmed her fears, she gave vent to a slight moan, and leant against the counter for support. ‘Are you ill, miss? Can I fetch you a glass of water?’ asked the young man in attendance anxiously. ‘No, no! I am quite well. It is only the heat!’ exclaimed Iris, as she took up the list again to make sure she had not been mistaken. ‘I--I will take a berth, please, in _this_ vessel--the _Pandora_.’ ‘There is only a second-class vacant, miss,’ returned the clerk. ‘We could accommodate you better in the _Hindustan_, which is quite as fine a ship.’ ‘No, I prefer the _Pandora_, thank you. What is the price of the berth?’ ‘Twenty-five guineas, if you please.’ Iris placed the money on the counter, with a sigh. She had imagined it would be less. But if she sold the dress off her back she felt that she _must_ go. ‘Thank you,’ said the clerk, as he received the money. ‘What name shall I book?’ Iris started. She had never thought about changing her name, but in a moment she saw the expediency of it. She was so long, however, before she answered the question, that the clerks looked at one another, and stuck their tongues in their cheeks, to intimate that this was a ‘rum go--’ ‘Miss Douglas,’ said Iris at length, in a low voice.