"You've waited for me, I see."
"Of course. I hoped you'd come."
"You say that as if you meant it."
"I do mean it."
"So bored that you can even put up with me?"
"I'm never bored at sea."
Her laugh rang out. "I gave you a perfect chance to say something nice," she said.
"I'm not much of a hand at saying nice things."
"I notice that."
Franklin let the challenge go. He had never felt it more necessary to keep a gag in his mouth. The things that were on the tip of his tongue to say were too primeval to put into words.