"I know," said Joan.

"Otherwise, probably, I shouldn't be here, should I ?" She forgot all about him, and an irresistible desire to tease, at the sight of the sea which, a stone's throw from the house, pounded on the yellow sweep of sand and swooped up in large half circles of glistening water.

"I've a jolly good mind to have another dip before changing.

What do you say ?" "No, don't," said Hosack, a martyr to the Forty-nine-feeling.
"Concentrate on me for ten minutes, if only because, damn it, I'm your host." Joan pushed his hand away.

"I've given up concentrating," she said.