"Why?" demanded Merle, blankly.
"'Cause it sounded quite decent. Everybody else on this blessed ship is talking such bosh!"
"What sort of bosh?"
Dick turned red.
"Oh, nothing," he said. There was a moment's pause, and then Merle flushed in her turn.
"I say—thanks for goin' in after Bobby," she said awkwardly.
Dick gave a kind of howl of disgust.
"Oh, you, too!" he cried. "I say, do chuck it. If you knew how sick I am of hearing about it!"
"Oh, all right," said Merle, plainly comprehending this point of view, and relieved to find that no more politeness was expected of her. Somewhat to her surprise, however, she found herself making further conversation:
"You glad we're gettin' in to-day?"