The Bell Branch

It was the night of the ship's dance. There were coloured lights and the fantastic mystery of the tropics as the "Moreton Bay" glided over the Indian Ocean. Gerry looked lovely in her blue dress dancing with the Third Officer. In the mellowness of the night it was to be hoped that Gerry was not going to fall in love with the first man who was different from her own kith and kin; the lean sun-browned men of Australia and the soft-tongued, amusing men of Ireland.