It was
she who spoke at last.
"He also said," she observed in a practical way, "that you must not
come out to Africa again."
He turned as if he had been stung.
"Did he make use of that particular word?" he asked.
"Which particular word?"
"Must."
Jocelyn had not foreseen the possibility that the doctor was merely
repeating to her what he had told Jack on a previous visit.
"No," she answered. "I think he said 'better not.'"
"And you make it into 'must.'"
She laughed, with a sudden light-heartedness which remained
unexplained.
"Because I know you both," she answered. "For him 'better not'
stands for 'must.' With you 'better not' means 'doesn't matter.'"
"'Better not' is so weak that if one pits duty against it it
collapses. I cannot leave Oscard in the lurch, especially after his
prompt action in coming to my relief."
"Yes," she replied guardedly. "I like Mr. Oscard's way of doing
things."
The matter of the telegram summoning Oscard had not yet been
explained. She did not want to explain it at that moment; indeed,
she hoped that the explanation would never be needed.
"However," she added, "you will see when you get home."
He laughed.
"The least pleasant part of it is," he said, "your evident desire to
see the last of me. Could you not disguise that a little--just for
the sake of my feelings?"
"Book your passage by the next boat and I will promptly descend to
the lowest depths of despair," she replied lightly.
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