“I’ve a confession to make, Boatswain.”
“Confess then, Nancy Lee.”
“My ankle wasn’t hurt that day in the brook. I didn’t really stumble.”
“What!”
She nodded contritely. “No. I did it on purpose. Wasn’t it perfectly shameless?”
“I’ve had a far-away feeling that you made a miraculous recovery from that strain. But why did you pretend?”
“Just as a game. I wanted to see what the—the good-looking stranger would do.”
“You found out.”
“Goodness, yes, didn’t I!” They laughed together at the thought.
“Madge and Charlie Danton,” she went on—“do you think they’re really in love? I mean, do you think their love will last?”