In the excerpt from Christopher Fowler's "Full Dark House," a character is about to depart when another character, Helena, abruptly interrupts. She reacts strongly against a common farewell gesture, urging him not to say anything that could invoke bad luck, despite her earlier claim of not being superstitious.

This moment highlights Helena's inner conflict as she balances her skepticism towards superstition with her fear of potential misfortune. Her insistence on avoiding any form of well-wishing suggests an irrational adherence to certain beliefs, revealing the complexities of human behavior regarding luck and rituals.