"Tell me what you like best in the world!" she said.
Merefleet reflected.
"You must know," she insisted briskly.

"Is it a woman ?" "Good heavens, no!" said Merefleet, with an emphasis not particularly flattering to the sex.
"Well, then," she said, "p'r'aps it's the sea ?" "You may say so for the sake of argument," said Merefleet.
"I don't argue," she responded, with what he took for a touch of heat.
"If people disagree with me I just shunt." "Excellent policy," said Merefleet, interested in spite of himself.

He fancied a faint shadow crossed her face.

But she continued to speak with barely a pause.

"If you like the sea you'd better join Bert and me.