"I haven't offended you, have I?"
"No. I'm just getting used to you. It's quite interesting. What do you want my advice about? Other girls, I suppose?"
"It may come to that," Loveland admitted.
"Anyone in particular, at the moment?"
"Well, supposing I were forced to marry money, for the sake of—of—my estates and all that, is there anyone on board you'd recommend?"
"You've two very eligible girls at your table."
"Yes. But hang it all, it's too much of a good thing having them at one's elbow like that, you know. If only it were you, instead——"
"On the principle of having the poor always with one. But for that you'd have to change and sit at mine. We're all poor there, I think. It's the Ineligible's Table, for both sexes. Would you care to come?"
"I'd care to, but I couldn't afford it," said Val. "I must stop where I am and take the goods the gods provide."
"You mean the dining-room steward who arranged the seats."