Agatha Christie

“ IT is most undignified for a heroine to be sea-sick. In books the more it rolls and tosses, the better she likes it. When everybody else is ill, she alone staggers along the deck, braving the elements and positively rejoicing in the storm. I regret to say that at the first roll the Kilmorden gave, I turned pale and hastened below. A sympathetic stewardess received me. She suggested dry toast and ginger ale.
I remained groaning in my cabin for three days. ”

“ I entered my name for various sports. Tea was served on deck, and I ate heartily. After tea, I played shovel-board with some pleasant young men. They were extraordinarily nice to me. I felt that life was satisfactory and delightful.
The dressing bugle came as a surprise and I hurried to my new cabin. The stewardess was awaiting me with a troubled face.
"There's a terrible smell in your cabin, miss. What it is, I'm sure I can't think, but I doubt if you'll be able to sleep here. There's a deck cabin up on C deck, I believe. You might move into that—just for the night, anyway." ”

“ Many men have been hated for less.
We all said the same things over again. The steward assured us, even more strongly, that both the other cabins were better cabins. None of us paid any attention to him.
Pagett began to lose his temper. Chichester kept his serenely. With an effort I also kept mine. And still none of us would give way an inch.
A wink and a whispered word from the steward gave me my cue. I faded unobtrusively from the scene. I was lucky enough to encounter the purser almost immediately.
"Oh, please," I said, "you did say I could have Cabin 17? And the others won't go away. ”

“ But it's all right, I'm off to South Africa on Saturday."
My abrupt onslaught had startled the good lady. She was not used to sudden demonstrations of affection. My words startled her still more.
"To South Africa? My dear Anne. We would have to look into anything of that kind very carefully."
That was the last thing I wanted. I explained that I had already taken my passage, and that upon arrival I proposed to take up the duties of a parlourmaid. It was the only thing I could think of on the spur of the moment. There was, I said, a great demand for parlourmaids in South Africa. ”

“ After a turn or two, Colonel Race joined us again.
"You can see the Grand Peak of Tenerife from the other side."
"Can we? Can I get a photograph of it, do you think?"
"No—but that won't deter you from snapping off at it."
Mrs. Blair laughed.
"You are unkind. Some of my photographs are very good." ”