Ruth looked over to where Mario’s aunt had been sleeping, but she had already dressed and gone up on deck. Ruth hurried into her clothes and re-packed the few things she had needed during the night. Through the porthole she could see the sunlight dancing on the water and she was more than a little excited at the thought of seeing a new place and one that she had always wanted to visit.Signora Verdecchio greeted her gaily when she went up on deck.“Can you see Mario?” she asked her. “He always comes to meet me when I pass through, but I can’t see him anywhere.”Ruth’s spirits sank at the mere mention of his name, but she obediently studied the waiting figures on the dock, looking for the tall, arrogant form of Mario Verdecchio. However, there was no sign of him anywhere.“I expect we’ll find him at the bottom of the gangway,” the Signora said comfortably. “I have to get a ticket to come back on board this evening and then we’ll get ashore.” She went off to look for the steward, waving her passport back and forth in front of his nose.Ruth stood in the background while the wave of excited Italian broke over her.
