Inthemorningafteranightsobadthatitwasworsethannonightatall，shesaidshewouldgotothesteamshipofficewithhimandquestionthemupabouttheColmannia。Thepeopletherehadneverheardshewascalledanunluckyboat；theyknewofnothingdisastrousinherhistory。
Theyweresofrankandsofullintheirdenials，andsokindlypatientofMrs。March’sanxieties，thathesaweverywordwascarryingconvictionoftheirinsinceritytoher。AttheendsheaskedwhatroomswereleftontheNorumbia，andtheclerkwhomtheyhadfallentolookedthroughhispassengerlistwithashakinghead。Hewasafraidtherewasnothingtheywouldlike。
“Butwewouldtakeanything。”sheentreated，andMarchsmiledtothinkofhisinnocenceinsupposingforamomentthatshehadeverdreamedofnotgoing。
“Wemerelywantthebest。”heputin。“Oneflightup，nonoiseordust，withsuninallthewindows，andaplaceforfireonrainydays。”
TheymustbeusedtoagooddealofAmericanjokingwhichtheydonotunderstand，intheforeignsteamshipoffices。TheclerkturnedunsmilinglytooneofhissuperiorsandaskedhimsomequestioninGermanwhichMarchcouldnotcatch，perhapsbecauseitformednopartofaconversationwithabarber，abootmakerorabanker。Abriefdramafollowed，andthentheclerkpointedtoaroomontheplanoftheNorumbiaandsaidithadjustbeengivenup，andtheycouldhaveitiftheydecidedtotakeitatonce。