As he was undressing his thoughts turned once more to the threat of the new disease which was devastating China.
“Rum thing about that new plague,” he remarked to his wife. “Seems as it’s only men as get it.”
“They’d never let it spread to England,” replied Mrs Gosling.
“Oh! there’s no fear of that, none whatever,” said Gosling, “but it’s rum that about women never catching it.”
The attitude of the Goslings faithfully reflected that of the immense majority of English people. The faith in the hygienic and scientific resources which were at the disposal of the authorities, and the implicit trust in the vigilance and energy of those authorities, were sufficient to allay any fears that were not too imminent. It was some one’s duty to look after these things, and if they were not looked after there would be letters in the papers about it. At last, without question, the authorities would be roused to a sense of duty and the trouble, whatever it was, would be stopped. Precisely what authority managed these affairs none of the huge Gosling family knew. Vaguely they pictured Medical Boards, or Health Committees; dimly they connected these things with local government; at the top, doubtless, was some managing authority—in Whitehall probably—something to do with the supreme head of affairs, the much abused but eminently paternal Government.
II—THE OPINIONS OF JASPER THRALE
1
“Lord, how I do envy you,” said Morgan Gurney.