‘That’s always been one of your dangers.’

‘You’re not a cannibal,’ Constance said.

‘One of my repressions,’ Diana admitted.

‘You mustn’t regret them, not now, at your age.’

‘I don’t. I never have,’ Diana said.

They had always played verbal catch this way, only now Diana was often uncertain of how many exchanges back Constance would hold in her mind, but she had always thrown an occasional wild ball and had also occasionally dropped an easy catch. It was a game they had learned very early not to play in anger. Diana did not want to be wary now, but the anger often under Constance’s bright playfulness was a danger to them both, for they shared it and were equally helpless before it.

‘Don’t you ever fight?’ Jill had asked Diana.

‘We’ve had all the ones that are useful,’ Diana had replied. ‘Once you know them by heart, there’s not much point.’

‘Do you want drinks in here, or shall I put them in the living room?’ David asked, standing in the doorway.

‘We’ll come in,’ Diana said.

‘Happy New Year,’ David said, lifting his glass to them.

‘What year is it?’ Constance asked.

‘Nineteen eighty-six’ David answered.

‘What did you do last night?’ Diana asked.

‘I played Monopoly with the kids, and then we all made New Year’s resolutions. The children were so serious about those that they made me think about pulling up my moral socks.’

‘Should we do that?’ Constance asked.

‘I suppose we should,’ Diana said.

‘I resolve to stop feeling guilty that I’m alive,’ Constance said cheerfully.

‘Now that’s one that would help me,’ David said.

‘Would it?’ Constance asked, surprised.

‘There were so many things Patricia still wanted to do,’ David said. ‘I squander the days and think about everything she might be doing.’

‘Patricia?’

‘My wife. She died a year and a half ago.’

‘I think everyone I know must be dead, but I can’t remember,’ Constance said. ‘I’d like to stop feeling guilty about that, too.’

‘I can’t think of anyone who lives as well in the present as you do,’ David said.

‘I’m not always sure that’s what it is. You won’t tell yours, will you, darling?’ Constance said, turning to Diana. ‘You aren’t really secretive, but you’re very modest.’

Diana laughed and then said, ‘I confess I’d rather live with fewer resolutions.’

‘That’s because you remember yours,’ Constance said sympathetically.

It was not until after dinner that David broached the subject of New Year wishes.

‘Mine,’ he said, ‘is to go to the desert for a couple of weeks with both of you, the sooner the better.’

‘Good!’ Constance said.

‘Nobody’d like it better than I would,’ Diana said, ‘but I think it’s really out of the practical question.’