It had been an anxious morning for Bones, and even Hamilton was compelled to confess to himself that he had felt the strain, though he had not mentioned the fact to his sister.
Outside in the roadstead the intermediate Elder Dempster boat was waiting the return of the doctor. Bones had been to see him off. An important day, indeed, for Henry Hamilton Bones had been vaccinated.
"I think it 'took,'" said Bones gravely, answering the other's question. "I must say Henry behaved like a gentleman."
"What did Fitz say?"
(Fitzgerald, the doctor, had come in accordance with his promise to perform the operation.)
"Fitz?" said Bones, and his voice trembled. "Fitz is a cad!"
Hamilton grinned.
"He said that babies didn't feel pain, and there was Henry howling his young head off. It was horrible!"
Bones wiped his streaming brow with a large and violent bandana, and looked round cautiously.
"Not a word, Ham, to her!" he said, in a loud whisper.