“I can’t say I feel very robust, my dear,” exclaimed the little lady with the ghost of a smile.
“Don’t you think it would do you good to come on deck?” began Billie.
“My dear, I couldn’t lift a little finger if the ship were sinking,” and Miss Campbell turned her face to the wall and refused to speak again.
“But, Mary—but, Elinor——” began Billie again, feeling something like a race horse who has no competitors.
Mary made no reply. Her face was white and her lips set as she endeavored to draw on her clothes.
Elinor smiled wanly.
“I believe you are all seasick,” exclaimed Billie accusingly.
“I’m not in the least seasick,” replied Elinor, drawing herself up proudly, “but I’ve had an attack of indigestion. Something I ate last night for dinner disagreed with me,—I think it was the chocolate ice cream——”
At the mere mention of chocolate ice cream Mary collapsed on her berth and Miss Campbell groaned aloud.
“Dear! dear!” said Billie softly, closing the door and stealing away to her stateroom. “Plague, pestilence and famine aren’t worse than seasickness.”