‘Well, I feel in a kind of way happy,’ said Veronica, wriggling her shoulders. ‘You see, I do like Victor, and we do seem to be rather involved – which comes, of course, from having nothing to do here. Oh, don’t look so grim, Sydney, you look fearfully grim. I mean, you might say the usual sort of thing even if you don’t mean them; you give me the creeps.’

‘My dear,’ said Sydney more warmly, ‘you must marry him if you care to. And I hope you’ll be fearfully happy.’

‘You know I really don’t see why one shouldn’t be,’ said Veronica, brightening, as though the possibility had only now presented itself. ‘Of course, he’s got no money and no work and nothing you’d call ability; but that makes me feel less of a mean pig.’

‘“Pig”, Veronica?’

‘For not feeling more thrilled. And he and I’ve got rather the same sense of humour. Of course, there are people at home I could marry, but there’s not really much to choose between any of them. You see, I’ve got absolutely no illusions. I do feel I might have been terribly fond of somebody; I don’t think I’m really hard or anything – do you? Do you think perhaps men aren’t what they used to be? … It’s all very well to say, “Don’t marry”!’ cried Veronica, throwing both her hands up to forbid interruption and raising her voice, ‘but I must marry somebody. You see, I must have some children.’

‘Well, you needn’t necessarily marry——’

‘My dear Sydney!’ exclaimed Veronica, horrified and scarlet. Her changes of mood, definite as the slipping-along of lantern slides, expressed themselves in changes of attitude, so that all unconsciously she was dramatic. Dejection once again drew out each line of her; she exclaimed: ‘But I’ve kicked Victor: what is the use of a man one can kick?’

The problem seemed likely to be one which she would be called upon to consider in its length and breadth repeatedly; she at once accepted the likelihood and turned away from it with a nod of admirable philosophy. ‘God knows!’ sighed she not irreverently. The problem would be dismissed at its very reappearance with this undefeated gracefulness. Sydney had a return of her earlier admiration. Veronica had taken up a sound position midway between defiance and resignation and seemed likely to achieve serenity.

‘And what shall you do?’ asked Veronica, as though they had been talking over their plans for the day. ‘I mean, when you get back to England?’

Sydney was blank for a moment – back to where? ‘Oh, go on where I left off,’ said she; ‘try and pass my next exam!’

‘Oh! Why?’

‘Well, I really——’