"I did not say he was in love; 'perhaps' was the word, I think," said Grace.
"I believe one of the rules of love is that a brother never confides in his sister. At any rate, she is sure to be among the last."
"I think Hugh would tell me of his love affairs," she answered, a merry sparkle coming into her eyes. "He thinks a great deal of my opinions."
"And I suppose you tell him of your love affairs," he said jestingly. She blushed furiously.
"He has a whole book full of my confidences," she finally said, seeking safety in exaggeration.
"Quite an interesting volume. How does it end? With an elopement?"
"Elopement! What do you--oh, ah, I--ha, ha! Wouldn't that be a jolly way to end it?" She laughed hysterically, recovering quickly from the effects of the startling, though careless question. For a few moments her heart throbbed violently.
Hugh came swinging toward them, his cigar tilted upward at an unusual angle because of the savage position of the lower jaw. His hands were jammed into his pockets and his cap was drawn well down over his eyes. He was passing without a word, ignoring them more completely than if they had been total strangers. He would, at least, have glanced at strangers.
"Hello, Mr. Ridge, going below?" called Veath.
"I'm going wherever the ship goes," came the sullen reply.