“But I fear I am taking up too much of your time. You know I have no further claim upon you. Farewell, Jacob, I shall not lose sight of you.”
“Stay,” said Jacob, who had been considerably alarmed, and who was still apprehensive that she might know more than he desired, “have you any money?”
“Yes,” said Margaret, “I have this.”
She displayed the half dollar, or rather what remained of it, after discharging her fare in the omnibus.
“That is very little. Take this.”
He took a gold piece from the pile that lay on the table, and handed it to her. “Come, let us part friends.”
“You forget, Jacob, that this gold is not yours. It belongs to a friend.”
“Never mind,” he muttered, “I can replace it.”
“No,” said she, decidedly, “I will not take it. I have no claim upon you.”
She rose and passed out of the room, Jacob looking after her with an air of mingled doubt, apprehension, and perplexity.