th French fried potatoes
were being served, when suddenly the color left her face. Another lurch
of the steamer sent a glass of ice water up her loose sleeve, and,
utterly discomfited, she begged to be excused and rushed from the table.
"Oh dear, mother, how terribly I feel; let me lie down. Oh dear! I wish
I were home with father and Gertrude."
"If the colonel were only here to help," murmured Mrs. Harris.
"Stewardess, where are you? Why don't you hurry when I ring? Go for the
doctor at once." It was now blowing a gale and the steamer was rolling
badly.
It was a long half-hour before the doctor entered the stateroom of Mrs.
Harris. Dr. Argyle was perfect in physical development and a model of
gentlemanly qualities. His education had been received in London and
Vienna, and he had joined the service of the "Majestic" that he might
enlarge his experiences as practitioner and man of the world. He had
correctly divined that here he was sure to touch intimately the restless
and wandering aristocracy of the globe.
While Dr. Argyle was ostensibly the ship's doctor, he was keenly alert
for an opportunity that would help him on to fame and fortune. Of the
two he preferred the latter, as he believed that humanity is just as
lazy as it dares to be. Therefore stateroom No. ---- was entered both
professionally and inquisitively. The doctor was half glad that the
Harrises were ill, as he had seen the family at Captain Morgan's table
and desired to meet them. Captain Morgan had incidentally mentioned to
the doctor the great wealth of the Harris family, and this also had
whetted his curiosity. Before him lay mother and daughter, helpless, both
in utter misery and the picture of despair.
"Beg pardon, ladies," said the doctor as he entered, "you sent for me
I believe?"
"Yes, yes," replied Mrs. Harris, "we thought you had forgotten us, as the
half-hour's delay seemed a full week. My daughter, Lucille, and I are
suffering terribly. How awful the storm! Last night, doctor, I thought
I should die before morning, and now I greatly fear that the ship will
go down."
"Do not fear, ladies," the doctor replied, "the wind is only brisk; most
people suffer a little on the ocean, especially on the first voyage."
"What is the cause of this terrible seasickness, doctor, and what can you
do for us?"
"Frankly, Mrs. Harris, no two physicians agree as to the cause. Usually
people suffer most from seasickness who come aboard weary from o
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