“What do you think?” innocently inquired Lois.
“Why—that is——”
“You hesitate, Blanche?”
“I am afraid you will be offended.”
“With you? Impossible. Pray be frank with me.”
“You promised not to be vexed?”
“I could not be vexed with you, my dear friend. What did you think?”
“Honestly, I thought you and Captain Desfrayne had had a lovers’ quarrel,” Blanche said.
Lois broke into a peal of silvery laughter, caused partly by surprise, partly by pique and anger—not toward Blanche, but toward the unhappy captain. She threw back her head with a little scornful gesture.
“You thought so? What could have led you to imagine such a strange thing?”