“Not unless they were idiots. Everybody on the steamer knew we sailed into a bay to get here.”
121“Still, they may have missed us.”
“Well, suppose they did go by us, once or twice, or several times; people don’t abandon their best friends and brothers in that off-hand fashion.”
After a pause he added, “Something may have happened to Father Burke or to Louise.”
“But even then,” said Elinor, turning toward him, “wouldn’t they try and discover why I had not arrived? And wouldn’t they hunt you up?”
“No, I was to be a surprise. None of them knew I was coming. They think I am still in South Africa.”
There was a long silence, broken at last by Pats. “What a hideous practical joke I have turned out! In the first place I strand you here and–”
“No! I was very unjust that day and have repented–and tried to atone.”
“Atone! You! Angels defend us! If atonement was due from you, where am I? Instead of getting you away, I go out of my head and have a fever–and am fed–like a baby.”
She smiled. “That is hardly your fault.”