“You are the captain of this ship.”
“That’s it, Miss Batters.”
“Why do you call me that?”
“Call you what?”
“Miss Batters. I am not Miss Batters. I am Susan.”
I had been looking away. When she said that I looked at her. I wished I hadn’t. There was something on her face—in her eyes—which set me all of a flutter. Something had come to me since I had entered those waters. I didn’t use to be easily upset. I couldn’t make it out at all. I couldn’t meet her glance, but looked down, smoothing the deck with the toe of my shoe, not recognising the sound of my own voice when I heard it.
“I don’t know that I quite care for the name of Susan. I think I prefer—Susie.”
“Susie? What is that?”
“That—that’s the name your friends will call you.”
“My friends?” She gave another little gasp. “Susie?” To hear her say it! “But I have no friends.”