[Unfortunately, she doesn't really know Lark, and at this point she expects that pretty much any answer in even the ballpark of honesty is just going to invite a torrent of much-deserved abusive sarcasm.
Maybe it will anyway, just by accepting the implication that anyone cares.]
private
Maybe it will anyway, just by accepting the implication that anyone cares.]
I'm fine.
[Lying and bracing herself it is, then.]