WAITING AT THE FERRY
A" NOONDAY INCIDENT. In habits and general conduct the Cobar and the Duchess aro fairly reliable and quite respectable. But there are occasions. The other day I.went down to meet tho Duchess at an appointed time of 11.45 a.m. She was nearly three-quarters of an hour late, and in the interval the Cobar, punctually on the stroke of 12.15 p.m., cast off her lines, wriggled out between the razor bow of the Maori and a lowdown coalio that attempted to block the fairway, and headed for the farther shore, what time a spent and irate lady, waving her umbrella, shuffled along the wharf. Ferry skippers have beon known to stay tho hands of time 'for a few seconds in chivalrous deference to unpunctual ladies, but these aro unchivalrous days. The lady, thus basely deserted, subsided upon a kerosene box,- mopped her face, openodand shut her purseall women in supreme crises open and shut their purses, why I don't know— and then, in search of an audience, looked round and saw me.
"What time does the > next boat go?" she asked. . "Tho Cobar's just gone," I replied, quite unnecessarily informative. . '"You don't need 'to tell me that, young man," said she. "Don't I know it?"
"You'll have to wait two hours and a half for the next," I told her, warming- this callous fact with appropriate sympathy. _
"Good Lor'," she exclaimed. "Here have I been travelling on them boats for three years, and this is the first timo I've ever been late. Wait till I get hold of that captain!" I trembled for the skipper. "It wasn't his fault." I observed, mildly.
"He SAW mo," she said, emphasising" her. declaration with a jab of her umbrella. "Just wait till I get him " I'LL tell him a few things that'll make his ears burn. Just wait I"
A mental picture of the meeting strained my gravity. Ferry skippers aro not noted for their meekness of spirit. Then the lady collected her various parcels, glared at a wharf employee, and stumped off to seek refreshment for body and mind—"Wi."
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2858, 24 August 1916, Page 4
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350WAITING AT THE FERRY Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2858, 24 August 1916, Page 4
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