Making room on the
bench made room in the conversation--decoying pauses hopefully designed
to lure him into saying something, anything, to Ramsey, or her to him;
but always the kind trap had gone unsprung. Two or three times,
obviously, Mrs. So-and-so's inquiries had first been Ramsey's to her; as
when one of them elicited the fact that the next turn would be Horseshoe
Cut-off and Kangaroo Point; and once, at length, after twice failing to
believe the ear she bent to Ramsey's murmur, she said audibly:
"Ask him, dear; ask him yourself."
Every one waited and presently Hugh remarked:
"I'll answer if I can."
"I'd rather," faltered Ramsey, "ask John the Baptist."
The unlucky mention took no evident effect on any one. If that was the
snub she would have to try again.
"I can ask him for you," said Hugh. "He's up, expecting to leave us at
Helena."
"No, thank you," she sighed, "you're too awfully busy. It won't make any
real difference if I never find out."
"Won't sink the boat to ask," drawled Watson; but she remained silent
till Hugh inquired:
"Are you sure I can't tell you?"
"Oh, you can!" came from Ramsey's dark corner. "But--with the whole boat
in your care--we oughtn't to ask you things we don't have to know."
"Lard! belch it out," urged the innocent Ned, taking her in earnest; but
again she was silent.
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