175 

 man and Board well aware of her value to the Institution. She 

 kissed me before them all, and nobody was embarrassed, not 

 even myself. The crew of the Dakota had got the box out and were 

 standing round politely, but clearly very conscious of the compass 

 needle pointing northwards. In a brief ceremony each of the 

 four officers was presented with one of the inscribed volumes 

 my wife had brought, while the others each received a special 

 memento. They were soon aboard and off, and we watched that 

 huge machine fade to a minute speck, then she was gone. As she 

 vanished it was as if a curtain had suddenly been dropped at the 

 close of a tense act. 



It was fitting that Malania was loaded with Miss Latimer into 

 G. G. Smith's van, and we all went off to the laboratory. Before 

 the cars had stopped we heard the telephone ringing madly, and 

 as I got out Mrs. Locke's head came through the window, calling 

 *Trunk-call, Professor.' It was prophetic. 



