I had made up my mind that Sophonisba was ill-natured; but,
nevertheless, she was pretty, and I now went through some little
manoeuvres with the object of getting into conversation with her.
This I soon did, and was surprised by her frankness. "How tired you
must be of mamma and her box," she said to me. To this I made some
answer, declaring that I was rather interested than otherwise in the
safety of the precious trunk. "It makes me sick," said Sophonisba,
"to hear her go on in that way to a perfect stranger. I heard what
she said about her jewellery."

"It is natural she should be anxious," I said, "seeing that it
contains so much that is valuable."

"Why did she bring them?" said Sophonisba. "She managed to live very
well without jewels till papa married her, about a year since; and now
she can't travel about for a month without lugging them with her
everywhere. I should be so glad if some one would steal them."

"But all Mr. Greene's money is there also."

"I don't want papa to be bothered, but I declare I wish the box might
be lost for a day or so. She is such a fool; don't you think so, Mr.
Robinson?"

At this time it was just fourteen hours since I first had made their
acquaintance in the yard of Conradi's hotel, and of those fourteen
hours more than half had been passed in bed. I must confess that I
looked upon Sophonisba as being almost more indiscreet than her
mother-in-law. Nevertheless, she was not stupid, and I continued my
conversation with her the greatest part of the way down the lake