Chapter 30

Across the intervening heaving restless water to the mainland . She could just make out the little jetty on which she had stood , waiting for the boat to come and take her to the island . The mist was clearing a little , and she could glimpse the sky reddening as the sun went down . " I hope the noise of the sea won't disturb you , Margaret was saying . ' It beats against the rocks and some people don't like it , but I suppose after the Sevila traffic it won't worry you . "

Lucy felt a terrible nostalgia grip her . She would have given anything just then to hear the familiar hoot of a bus ; the honking of taxis ; the voices of newsboys crying the latest news ; the tramping of feet on wet pavements - all the old familiar things . To her disgust she felt tears welling into her eyes and a lump forming in her throat , but she would not give way to this emotion of self - pity . Resolutely she turned to Margaret .

I shan't mind the noise , ' she said . ' In fact , I think