dded. "It was God's will," said she.

The stewardess shut her lips and, taking a deep breath, she seemed to
expand.

"What I always say is," she said, as though it was her own discovery,
"sooner or later each of us has to go, and that's a certingty." She
paused. "Now, can I bring you anything, Mrs Crane? A cup of tea? I know
it's no good offering you a little something to keep the cold out."

Grandma shook her head. "Nothing, thank you. We've got a few wine
biscuits, and Fenella has a very nice banana."

"Then I'll give you a look later on," said the stewardess, and she went
out, shutting the door.

What a very small cabin it was! It was like being shut up in a box with
grandma. The dark round eye above the washstand gleamed at them dully.
Fenella felt shy. She stood against the door, still clasping her luggage
and the umbrella. Were they going to get undressed in here? Already her
grandma had taken off her bonnet, and, rolling up the strings, she fixed
each with a pin to the lining before she hung the bonnet up. Her white
hair shone like silk; the little bun at the back was covered with a
black net. Fenella hardly ever saw her grandma with her head uncovered;
she looked strange.

"I shall put on the woollen fascinator your dear mother crocheted for
me," said grandma, and, unstrapping the sausage, she took it out and
wound it round her head; the fringe of grey bobbles danced at her
eyebrows as she smiled tenderly and mournfully at Fenella. Then
she undid her bodice, and something under that, and something else
underneath that. Then there seemed a short, sharp tussle, and grandma
flushed faintly. Snip! Snap! She had undone her stays. She breathed a
sigh of relief, and sitting on the plush couch, she slowly and carefully
pulled off her elastic-sided boots and stood them side by side.

By the time Fenella had taken off her coat and skirt and put on her
flannel dressing-gown grandma was quite ready.

"Must I take off my boots, grandma? They're lace."

Grandma gave them a moment's deep consideration. "You'd feel a great
deal more comfortable if you did, child," said she. She kissed Fenella.
"Don't forget to say your prayers. Our dear Lord is with us when we
are at sea even more than when we are on dry land. And because I am an
experienced traveller," said grandma briskly, "I shall take the upper
berth."

"But, grandma, however will you get up there?"

Three little spider-like steps were all Fenella saw. The old