"We must let the New Year in," he said.
Outside was a fine blue night. A sparkling ribbon of moonlight garlanded the gulf. Inside
the bar the harbor shone like a pavement of pearl. They stood before the door and
waited--Captain Jim with his ripe, full experience, Marshall Elliott in his vigorous but
empty middle life, Gilbert and Anne with their precious memories and exquisite hopes,
Leslie with her record of starved years and her hopeless future. The clock on the little
shelf above the fireplace struck twelve.
"Welcome, New Year," said Captain Jim, bowing low as the last stroke died away. "I
wish you all the best year of your lives, mates. I reckon that whatever the New Year
brings us will be the best the Great Captain has for us--and somehow or other we'll all
make port in a good harbor."
