“'Now who were they?'” Paul quoted derisively out of the dark.
“We are going to Captain Dawson's to play Hearts. Come! Don't be stupid!”
“We are not stupid, we are busy!” Moya called back.
“Busy! Doing what?”
“Oh, deciding things. We are talking about the Poor Man.”
“The poor men, she means.” Christine's high laugh followed the lieutenant's speech, as the pair went on.
“He is a bore!” Moya declared. “We can't even use him for a joke.”
“Speaking of Lane, dear?”
“The Poor Man. Are you sure that you've got a sense of humor, Paul? Can't we have charity for jokes among the other poor things?”
Paul had raised himself to the step beside her. “You are shivering,” he said, “I must let you go in.”