Show Me a Sign

When Mary revives, she is lying in Minot’s examination room. Nora hands her a note from the doctor. He apologizes for the terrible treatment she has received at the hands of Andrew. Minot doesn’t want to call the law and embarrass his family, but he spoke with the sailor who was watching the house. The man agreed to return for Mary. She will slip out so that Andrew will believe she has escaped. If he ever comes to Martha’s Vineyard again, Minot assures her that the islanders will send him packing.

Mary impatiently goes to the door and waits for the sailor to return. Before he arrives, she spies Andrew coming up the street. Nora immediately lets her escape, and Mary flees. Luckily, she encounters the sailor again. He can’t sign, and she grows suspicious, but Andrew is already in pursuit. The sailor leads her to a docked boat and shoves her in. Much to her relief, it is the Black Dog and belongs to her old friend Ezra: “‘Mary,’ he signs, with a twinkle in his eye, ‘I’m glad to see you, but I can’t say I admire your frills and brass buttons. You’re dressed a mite too fancy for the Dog’” (218).