"You have the longest lashes of any woman in the world," he remarked.
"One would think you'd seen them all—all the women and all the eyelashes!" She looked at him at last, and her soft, smoke-blue eyes were the colour of her sapphire brooch and chain.
"I've seen my share of fair ladies."
"So I've heard."
"You've probably heard a good deal that isn't true." Severance glanced at Mrs. Sorel, or at what he could see of her, which was mostly book, lorgnettes, and hand. She seemed absorbed. He leaned towards Marise.
"The last three days have been a hundred years long," he murmured.
"Why? Have you been seasick, poor boy?"
"No!" (This was a slight deviation from the truth.) "I've been beastly dull without you."
"If you're such a good sailor, couldn't you walk, and read, and——"
"I couldn't be bothered doing anything intelligent. I moped in my cabin." ("Moped" was one word for what he had done.) "I——"