"Howden—that's who."
She did not show the slightest disturbance, but laughed a little to herself as she looked again at the floor.
"No," she said, "you're wrong. King Howden and I are not even good friends any more."
He looked at her in surprise. "That ain't true," he said.
She raised her eyes quickly. "You have never known me to lie over anything," she replied. "You wouldn't expect me to lie over this."
He grunted to himself and regarded her strangely. "Then I'm goin' ahead with that in mind," he said. "Am I doin' right?"
"I can only speak for myself," she replied. "I don't know what's in King Howden's mind."
"I don't give a—" He checked himself in an effort, apparently, to be polite. "I don't worry about what's in his mind," he said. "I'll look after him, an' I'm goin' to settle with him myself."
He paused for some time and Cherry took advantage of the pause to draw about her shoulders the cover that lay on the couch where it had fallen when she had first got up.
"And is that all?" she asked.