On this Bessie really began to cry, and Helen, though she tried to brave it out, trembled.
“Can’t we go back without, if we don’t go to the ferry-house?” she said, with trembling lips. “We haven’t any more money and we want to go home.”
On this the man was softened and probably ashamed of his suspicions, for he turned and said as he went out of the door, “Well, if the capt’n don’t object, I don’t care.”
Then the people began to come in, and the two girls sat trembling, dreading that every man who entered was the captain to demand their fare.
In this new trouble they forgot the bundle, and did not attempt to get rid of it on the river.
When they were safely away from the ferry-boat and on the street on the home side, they felt better, and began to think again of what they wanted now more than ever to do. They both felt that if they ever got safely home and out of this scrape they would never—never—get into another one again.
As they trudged wearily along, full of these good resolutions, they came to a row of houses set back a little in the yards with grass and shrubs growing.
Bessie whispered, “Couldn’t you drop it under one of these bushes, Helen? See; there’s a lilac very thick and down to the ground.”
Sure enough; there was a most convenient bush close to the fence.
“Is anybody looking?” whispered Helen, glancing around fearfully.