Page:A Wild-Goose Chase - Balmer - 1915.djvu/49

Rh to stay. Her mother accused her, "Margaret! You are refusing to go away on account of Eric Hedon!"

She admitted quietly, "Yes, Mother; I care more about being with him than about anything else." And she would not go. So, when Eric returned to the Thomases, he found her; and he could not again pretend reason for going away.

It was more than a fortnight later that Eric left for the Aurora at New York. Margaret did not see him or hear from him in the morning of the last day or in the afternoon till she stole over late "to say good-bye to Mr. Thomas."

Eric was in the library with the others, listing up the supplies already aboard the Aurora and the remainder still to be expected. Margaret joined them and for a few moments worked with them over the lists; then she and Eric were alone. Mrs. Thomas had disappeared and her husband had vanished with her, and the doors were closed. Margaret and Eric stood side by side at the table over which were strewed the accounts, bills and invoices of