That afternoon, as we watched the flying fish from the ship's side,
Hilda said to me abruptly, "My chaperon is an extremely nervous woman."
"Nervous about what?"
"About disease, chiefly. She has the temperament that dreads
infection--and therefore catches it."
"Why do you think so?"
"Haven't you noticed that she often doubles her thumb under her
fingers--folds her fist across it--so--especially when anybody talks
about anything alarming? If the conversation happens to turn on jungle
fever, or any subject like that, down goes her thumb instantly, and she
clasps her fist over it with a convulsive squeeze. At the same time,
too, her face twitches. I know what that trick means. She's horribly
afraid of tropical diseases, though she never says so."
"And you attach importance to her fear?"
"Of course. I count upon it as probably our chief means of catching and
fixing her."
"As how?"
She shook her head and quizzed me. "Wait and see. You are a doctor; I, a
trained nurse. Before twenty-four hours, I foresee she will ask us.
She is sure to ask us, now she has learned that you are Lady Tepping's
nephew, and that I am acquainted with several of the Best People.
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