RMS SCOTIA SAILED TO New York under the command of Captain Judkins. One of Cunard’s finest officers and a staunch upholder of ship’s discipline, he ruled with a rod of iron. The captain had once legendarily threatened to clap a number of passengers from the American Deep South in irons when they not only refused to listen to a lecture given by Frederick Douglass but threatened to throw the abolitionist overboard. Captain Judkins, a taciturn man with the appearance of a distinguished politician, made no attempt to endear himself to his passengers, most of whom lived in fear of his acerbic tongue. However, he and Aunt Marion had struck up an unlikely friendship in the ten days spent at sea, as a result of which she and Margaret were invited to dine at his table almost every night and given a pride of place at the grand gala ball thrown to celebrate the New Year. It was a dubious honour, for the captain enjoyed the sound of his own voice rather too much, and his officers held him in a combination of reverence and fear, but when Aunt Marion pointed out that it ensured they had champagne on tap, Margaret could hardly demur.

The huge paddles of the Scotia had temporarily stopped turning in the early hours of this morning, some miles off the American coast, to allow US government officials to board. Wrapped in her thick travelling cloak, her hands in fur mittens, Margaret stood at the rails of the first-class deck as the engines started up again to complete the short final leg of their transatlantic journey up the East River to their berth in New York Harbour. The docking process was terrifyingly complex, for the river was teeming with ships, tugs, barges, and rowing boats, all jostling for position. As the engines were cut for a final time, a cacophony of voices rang out, shouting instructions from the dockside, from the barges, and from the bridge of the Scotia. Horns blasted, rigging creaked, gulls screeched plaintively, and the tang of salt gave way to the acrid scent of smoke that filled the leaden skies. On the decks of the other ships Margaret could see hordes of people crowded together, all straining, as she was, for their first glimpse of New York City.