I wished it were the principal thing; still, I said nothing, and getting up, we went into the hall.
"Miss Van Buren would think it cool of you, perhaps, if she knew you'd registered her boat in your name," said Starr, taking up the subject again. "She wouldn't understand——"
"What would Miss Van Buren think cool?" asked Miss Van Buren's voice behind us, and the Mariner started as if we were conspirators.
"Oh, nothing particular," he answered limply.
"Please tell me."
"I'll tell you," I said, with a sudden determination that she should know the worst, and do her worst, and be conquered by something stronger than her prejudice. The tug-of-war was coming between us now, that tug-of-war I had been expecting and almost desiring.
"I registered your boat in my name," I said calmly, "and Starr thinks you wouldn't understand."
She threw up her head, flushing. "I don't understand."
"It gives us the right to use the flag of my club."
"We could have got on without it."