Noah, with a great
deal of firmness, "but I wish Mrs. Socrates to understand that it is
rather early in the voyage for her to lay down any such broad principle as
that, and for her own sake to-morrow, I think it would be well if she
withdrew the sentiment. There are certain things about a sea-voyage that
are more or less beyond the control of man or woman, and any one who
chides that poor suffering child on yonder sofa ought to be more confident
than Mrs. Socrates can possibly be that within an hour she will not be as
badly off. People who live in glass houses should not throw dice."
"I shall never yield to anything so undignified as seasickness, let me
tell you that," retorted Xanthippe. "Furthermore, the proverb is not as
the lady has quoted it. 'People who live in glass houses should not throw
stones' is the proper version."
"I was not quoting," returned Mrs. Noah, calmly. "When I said that people
who live in glass houses should not throw dice, I meant precisely what I
said. People who live in glass houses should not take chances. In assuming
with such vainglorious positiveness that she will not be seasick, the lady
who has just spoken is giving tremendous odds, as the boys used to say on
the Ark when we gathered about the table at night and began to make small
wagers on the day's run."
"I think we had better suspend this discussion," suggested Cleopatra.
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