Page:A Wild-Goose Chase - Balmer - 1915.djvu/45

Rh "Of course; but he—" Margaret's mother checked herself but she could not prevent her glance from referring to the comfortable furnishings of the room and then returning to Eric's coat. Margaret's hand moved toward his on the table.

"I think your work is perfectly splendid, Mr. Hedon!" she cried. "I would rather do your work and work in your way than do anything else I know!"

She brought the blood hot to his cheeks by that as hers warmed too when he turned to her in gratitude. And from that impulsive approval and defence of Eric, she never was shaken.

She met plenty of opposition. Her mother saw it would be a mistake to refuse to invite Eric to her house; on the contrary, she invited him cordially. She believed that Margaret, by seeing him often, would soon appreciate that, while nothing could be said against Eric, he was not situated to become more than an interesting acquaintance. He indeed was almost penniless. He was the son of a medical missionary, stationed at Samoa when Eric was