She drank again with apparent enjoyment. “Always drink it myself out of principle. Charge you too much to leave out a meal... First trip?”
“First time in my life I ever slept in a berth. I’d no idea they were so comfortable.”
The grey-haired lady fumbled beneath her pillow, placed a pair of spectacles on her nose, and stared across with frank curiosity.
“Bride?”
“I beg your pardon!”
“Unnecessary, thank you. It’s my tenth voyage. Met shoals of brides. You look the type.”
Katrine ostentatiously displayed her left hand.
“I hope that’s a compliment. As a matter of fact, I am going out to join some friends in North Bengal.”
“Missionaries?”
Katrine jumped till the cup rattled in a threatening manner.