Bab looked at her in undisguised amazement.
"Hurt?" she repeated. "Why should you think I would hurt him?"
Linda smiled at her gently.
"You know perfectly, Bab."
"I do not," Bab returned crisply; "I know what you suggest, of course—that I am—well, leading him on, to put it vulgarly. Isn't that what you mean by hurting him?"
"Precisely!"
"And you really think I am doing that?"
"No; I only asked whether you are."
Bab with an effort got rid of the note of irritation in her tone. If she must fence she would at least fence with art. So she returned Linda's quiet smile.