Besides , it looked like a storm . The harbour was glassy calm , but the sky was very black and dour in the northeast -- like snow , thought weather-wise Mary Margaret . She hoped her mother would get home before it began , and she wished the lighthouse star would gleam out on the Big Dipper . It would seem like the bright eye of a steady old friend . Mary Margaret always watched for it every night ; just as soon as the sun went down the big lighthouse star would flash goldenly out in the northeastern sky . `` I 'll sit down by the window and watch for it , '' said Mary Margaret to herself . `` Then , when it is lighted , I 'll get up a nice warm supper for Mother and Uncle Martin . '' Mary Margaret sat down by the kitchen window to watch . Minute after minute passed , but no light flashed out on the Big Dipper . What was the matter ? Mary Margaret began to feel uneasy . It was too cloudy to tell just when the sun had set , but she was sure it must be down , for it was quite dark in the house . She lighted a lamp , got the almanac , and hunted out the exact time of sunsetting . The sun had been down fifteen minutes ! And there was no light on the Big Dipper ! Mary Margaret felt alarmed and anxious . What was wrong at the Big Dipper ? Was Uncle George away ? Or had something happened to him ? Mary Margaret was sure he had never forgotten !
Fifteen minutes longer did Mary Margaret watch restlessly XXXXX the window .
after as at before by for like of on to