“If we could only wait until your Uncle Eric’s ship returns,” Mrs. Folger began, uncertainly. “We’re expecting him back almost any time, you know. He may have news, dear.” “But I—want to go to sea,” Tommy said, vehemently. “I’ve wanted it all my life. I only gave it up so Lis could have my chance. Now—now when it means I can be on the spot, as Milly says, to help search for him, I——Mother, I just _can’t_ stay at home and wait. Please, please don’t ask me to!” He had his hands on her shoulders and was bending over the low chair back, to look earnestly into her troubled face. “Mother, we—we can’t just _leave_ Lis over there without one of us going——” Mrs. Folger glanced at Captain Bartlet inquiringly, and he met her eyes with a little nod of reassurance. “I think it a good plan, if thee will trust him to me, ma’am,” he confirmed his nod, gravely. Erica turned to the fire and stared into its glowing depths with eyes so blinded by tears all they could see was a dull red blur. First Lis and now Tommy! Men and boys had all the chances in this world. Girls and women had just to stay at home and suffer and wait and wait. She rumpled her short red curls, bitterness in her heart, and listened to the slow voices of Captain Bartlet and her aunt, and the eager, young voice of Tommy, discussing the new plan. CHAPTER VII Tommy returned with Captain Bartlet to Boston the following day. His going left a great gap in the family, that was made still more apparent by the cloud of anxiety on Lister’s behalf which hung over the two Folger households. But it was agreed, before he left, that his mother and Erica should go to Boston two days before he was to sail, and stay with a cousin of Mrs. Folger’s, so they could see the _Spray_ for themselves—this had been the captain’s kindly suggestion—and have another opportunity to say good-by to Tommy before his long voyage began. Miss Charity promised to keep an eye on Milly and little Barbee for the short time the others should be gone, and the prospect of the trip, and the hurried preparations for it—the _Spray_ was to sail in a week—helped everybody through that first almost unbearable period of suspense while they waited for news from China, which could not possibly reach them before the arrival of the next tea clipper from the other side of the world.