"Philippa," he said, "you've been adorable for the last half hour."
"For the last half hour I've been myself."
She smiled as if to herself, a secret, meditative smile. The mystery of it was not lost on Straker.
"I can always be myself," she said, "when I'm with you."
"For half an hour," he murmured.
She went on. "You're not tiresome, like the others. I don't know what there is about you, but you don't bore me."
"Perhaps not—for half an hour."
"Not for millions of half hours."
"Consecutive?"
"Oh, yes."