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Elizabeth checked their luggage as it was brought down in the lift and put into the taxi.

"Seven pieces," she reported. "That was all, wasn't it?"

"My white grip!" Adele remembered. "I left it with my coat beside the bed."

"It's here," Elizabeth assured her. "Nothing has been forgotten."

"You're most efficient, Elizabeth," Adele said. "I've come to depend on you now."

"I'm glad." Elizabeth helped her into the taxi. "It's what I'm here fear."

They reached the airport with the best part of an hour to spare, checked in, and went to drink a refreshing glass of pineapple juice at the restaurant bar. The great international airport was a hive of activity, with ground staff and passengers hurrying in all directions and flights taking
off
at regular intervals while they waited.

"A point!"
exclaimed Adele. "I have remembered John's letter and he really must have it without delay. Will you drop it in the mail-box for me, Elizabeth? It is already stamped." She produced the forgotten letter from her capacious shoulder-bag.

Elizabeth glanced at the Departures indicator, but there was plenty of time before their flight.

"Give it to me," she said, heaving a sigh. "Do you know where the post-box is?"

"There is bound to be one around somewhere," Adele assured her. "Over there, next to Information. You can leave your coat with me."

Elizabeth laid her travelling coat on the chair beside her.

"I'll only be a couple of minutes," she told her.

She found the mailing-box at the far end of lie lounge and made her way back through the crowd, feeling that all was now well. They had attended to everything.

When she looked for Mrs. Abercrombie she had gone.

The chair Adele had vacated was now occupied by a well-dressed, middle-aged Polynesian woman who was obviously waiting for one of the inter-island planes and had no connection with Mrs. Abercrombie at all.

Elizabeth's heart sank as she began a frantic search of the lounge. Where
could
Grand'mere have gone to? The Ladies? Her lips were firmly set as she reached the door, but the Ladies' Room was completely neglected. Time was ticking past and a tight lump of fear formed in Elizabeth's throat as she continued her search. Supposing something really serious had happened? Supposing the old lady had been taken ill and had been whipped away to hospital?

That was ridiculous, she assured herself in the next breath. It couldn't have happened in the short space of her absence, and in any case she would have seen the commotion even from the far side of the lounge. No, Grand'mere had just 'gone off', as Charles had warned her.

Charles! She thought of him in sudden panic. If they missed their flight he would hold her completely responsible. She had given him her solemn promise before he left, knowing how important it was to him, and at the last minute she had failed. The very last minute.

"Oh, Grand'mere, where are you?" she murmured desperately. "Why on earth couldn't you stay put for such a short, important time?"

A wave of exasperation washed over her. It really was annoying, she thought, although anger would get her nowhere. She continual her search between the groups of passengers and their friends gathering for the flight to San Francisco, but there was no sign of the familiar figure in the long grey travelling cloak nor any sign of their hand-luggage. It was as if they had never come to Honolulu together, as if the past four days had been nothing more than a pleasant dream.

By the time their flight number was called she was almost frantic. A small queue began to form at the glass doors, there were final embraces and friends stood back. Desperately Elizabeth turned to search again. The lounge was almost empty and Mrs. Abercrombie was coming towards her with a pile of little parcels in her arms. A smiling shop assistant followed with Elizabeth's coat and their hand-luggage.

"Ah, there you are, Elizabeth!" the old lady exclaimed, as if Elizabeth was the one who had been at fault. "I had forgotten Jenny's present," she explained. "It was no use taking her something from 'Frisco when: she knew I had been in Hawaii. I got her one of those funny little charm bracelets made from Island beans.

They all have a meaning, you know," she chattered on, "and it's the sort of thing Jenny likes. A bauble, really, but it will please her. She is such a child at heart."

Elizabeth was speechless, relief and exasperation struggling for expression as she relieved the Polynesian girl of their belongings and took Adele firmly by the arm.

"Do you know that we've nearly missed the plane?" she said severely. "I wish you'd told me where you were going."

"I didn't think of Jenny's present until after you had gone with the letter. That's the trouble with old age," Mrs. Abercrombie reflected. "One forgets things. I shouldn't be like that, of course. I've always had a very alert mind, and I do remember important details quite clearly. It's the little, seemingly unimportant matters which sometimes escape me, like a name occasionally, or where I have put something for safe keeping and then can't find it because it was too well hidden!" She produced her passport "Is anything the matter, Elizabeth?" she asked. "You look cross."

Elizabeth swallowed her exasperation.

"I'm very glad I don't have to tell Charles that you disappeared," she confessed.

"But I heard the flight announcement, and there is really plenty of time," Adele objected. "You worry too much about what Charles will think."

"I gave him my solemn promise to look after you and he made it quite clear that he would hold me responsible for getting you to San Francisco," Elizabeth pointed out "It's quite reasonable few him to expect me to do my job properly."

"You do, indeed! I'm completely satisfied with you," Adele told her. "You mustn't think I do those foolish things on purpose, Elizabeth, just to prove my independence. It isn't that It's just that I'm inclined to act on impulse occasionally because, for a very long time, I had no one to consult-but myself."

"I think I understand," said Elizabeth.

"I'm sure you do. Charles leads a very ordered life," Adele remarked, "but sometimes I think he takes his responsibilities a little too seriously. It is a Scottish trait," she sighed, "but I do not try to change him too much. He has a tremendous love for Abercrombie's, and so have I. We would both sacrifice a great deal for it, perhaps even our own ultimate happiness."

It was something Elizabeth already believed about Charles, the preoccupation with business affairs which had caused him to frown on her in the beginning, but there had been the other Charles, the one who had spoken gently about Scotland and taken her sailing on a moonlit sea.

When they were safely installed in the big jet, with their coats on the racks above their heads and their light luggage at their feet, she was able to relax.

"What else did you buy?" she asked.

"One or two things, while I had the opportunity."

Elizabeth let that pass.

"All presents?"

"Nearly all." Mrs. Abercrombie selected a small package from her collection. "This is for you," she said. "I thought you would like to have it to remind you of Waikiki."

As if she needed a reminder! Elizabeth took the package, wondering what it could possibly contain.

"It's the same as Jenny's," Adele told her helpfully. "You can open it now, if you like."

Quite obviously she was going to be disappointed if her gift wasn't appreciated.

They fastened their seat-belts, supervised by a kindly steward.

"I hope you will like it," said Mrs. Abercrombie.

"I'm sure I shall. It's—very generous of you."

"Nonsense! I hope I shall always be able to buy little gifts for my friends," Adele declared. "It gives me the utmost pleasure, so it is a very selfish impulse, really!"

The box was sift-wrapped in the delightful American way, with a tiny mauve orchid tucked behind the seal to show that it had come from the Islands. Elizabeth pinned it into her lapel with the two she had been given on departure, while Mrs. Abercrombie sat waiting for her verdict on her present.

Elizabeth took the bracelet from its box, holding it up delightedly. A selection of the peculiar little native beans was suspended on a slender gold chain, each one different from its neighbour, each carrying its own particular charm. There were two big round ones, and two highly-polished grey ones; one that looked like a sickle moon, and a large, pear-shaped one with deep veins on it almost like a human heart. The others were in little groups of three, small red beans and prickly beans, like miniature pineapples, and they jangled cheerfully as she clasped the bracelet round her wrist.

"That one is for happiness," Adele told her, indicating one of the beans. "Take care that you do not lose it. The round smooth grey one is the one that will bring you back to Hawaii!"

On my way home to Australia, Elizabeth thought, after all my wonderful adventure is over!

"Do you really believe in those Island legends?" she asked, fingering the crescent-shaped bean.

"Certainly I do! Otherwise, why have them?" Adele laughed. "If they do nothing more than bring you back to Hawaii and ensure your happiness for the rest of your life aren't they worth a bit of belief?'

"You're incorrigible, but thank you for my bracelet, all the same," Elizabeth smiled. "Have you bought anything for yourself?"

Adele shook her head.

"Self-given presents are not very exciting," she declared. "I have one for Charles and one for Natalie, who is very difficult to please, I'm afraid. One could hardly offer her a charm bracelet."

"She sounds—very practical."

Mrs. Abercrombie considered the suggestion for a moment.

"I suppose that might be the correct word to use," she allowed. "She is also very determined."

"I think you said she was Jenny's sister."

"Her older sister, by several years. Quite astonishingly she allowed me to take her under my wing when I assumed responsibility for Jenny."

"What have you bought Charles?" Elizabeth asked, feeling that they had discussed the Hodge asters for long enough. "A tie?"

"I never make such a mistake!" Adele declared. "Charles is most conservative about his neckwear, and you know what the average American tie looks like."

"I've seen some very modest ones."

"Well, I decided not to risk it." Adele smoothed the gift wrapping on her final parcel. "It's a silk shirt, a very plain, good shirt incapable of offending anyone." She laid the unopened package aside. "Now, what have you bought?" she demanded.

"Very little," Elizabeth confessed. "I—haven't anyone to take presents to. Not in Scotland, anyway."

There was a short pause.

"What are your plans once you get there?" Adele asked after due consideration.

"To see as much of the country as possible until my money runs out"

"And afterwards?"

"I may take a job. I will have to apply for a work permit, of course, but perhaps that wouldn't be too difficult"

"Would you work in Scotland?"

Elizabeth's eyes lit up.

"I can't think of anything I would like better," she answered.

"A la bonne heure!"
Mrs. Abercrombie relaxed in her seat "Did you bring a book to read?" she asked. "I'm half way through something or other."

"Shall I look for it in your grip?" Elizabeth offered.

"If you wouldn't mind."

It was a comfortable flight, with meals punctuating their spells of reading or just day-dreaming, as the spirit moved them.

"Some people are bored by flying, but I never feel that way," Adele remarked. "How can one be 'bored' when there is so much left to do in the world and so much to see? Charles says people who are easily bored are their own worst enemies."

"He seems to lead a full and exciting life," Elizabeth murmured.

"Full, certainly," his grandmother agreed. "Sometimes, lately, I have felt that his only excitement must be work. That is why I was so glad to see him at Waikiki," she added. "He really enjoyed these two days."

"Perhaps he'll go more often now that you have the sugar plantation to look after," Elizabeth suggested.

"He knows I have a competent manager in John Kapala," Adele said, ''but it is a nice stop-off on the way to Australia." She looked out of the window. "I wonder if he will be at the airport to meet us."

Elizabeth drew in a deep breath at the prospect of seeing Charles again so soon, believing that she needed more time to adjust to this final meeting.

She had' no doubt that it would be final because, from San Francisco on, he could look after his grandmother himself. They would have no further use for her services and the gift Mrs. Abercrombie had bought for her at Honolulu seemed to
accentuate
the fact. It was a parting gift, a small token from Adele herself to say 'thank you' for the few services she had rendered.

Her fingers closed tightly over the bracelet as they touched down at San Francisco. Tomorrow, she thought, it will all be over and I'll be on my own again with the second half of my journey still before me.

There was no sign of Charles.

"He didn't actually promise," Adele pointed out. "We are all booked in at the Drake, so we had better hire a taxi and get there by ourselves. No doubt he is very busy with a client."

The drive towards the city kept Elizabeth's thoughts busy until they reached the hotel. There seemed to be water everywhere, with breathtaking vistas of hills to the east and north, and the great span of the Golden Gate standing in an orange glow against the sky.

"This is the most wonderful city in America," Adele declared with conviction. "It has so much character one could never grow tired of it. I rode in a cable-car here on my honeymoon, up to Nob Hill and across all the junctions and down again into Chinatown! At night, when the lights are lit, it sparkles like a gigantic galaxy, rivalling the stars themselves. At the Top o' the Mark or on the Starlite Roof at the Drake it looks as if lights and stars had all come together for one great, happy reunion."