‘He’s had girlfriends,’ said Margaret, as one who states a fact. I knew that. I wondered if she knew how many. There’d been a time when he changed girls as often as he changed socks. It had looked like a kind of insanity, and sometimes I’d wondered if he wished he’d been a girl, surrounding himself as he did with such heaps of the creatures. Everybody lost count. The minute one affair was over—and often before—he’d be in love again and always with somebody unlikely, somebody who, you felt, would have remained forever on the shelf if Syl hadn’t reached up and brought her down and dusted her. He seemed to have an ability to see something in the dullest, plainest female; some spark imperceptible to the rest of the world. Having perceived this twinkle he would set about fanning it in his mind to a positive pyre, a great glorious leaping thing of flame and heat. He would describe the new girl in these firelit terms and bring her to meet you, and when he did you’d find the sort of girl you bought your stockings from, or who dealt out your prescription over the chemist’s counter. Yes, all right. I am a snob. I am particularly a snob in matters of sex. Monica too used to be disgusted. Why did she permit her daughter now to be engaged to him? I thought it was very bad of Monica. I didn’t understand her. It was all too peculiar. Maybe I had been away too long and forgotten how the English behaved. What an annoying thought. I am particularly fond of understanding.

The butcher’s shop was bright and orderly. It gave a rather comfortable impression which was remarkable considering its purpose. Nice clean bits of animals hung around in neat rows. It was warmer in there out of the wind and I was quite sorry to leave. There were all manner of cuts of meat I hadn’t seen for years and the butcher bragged about them. He was as proud of his liver as if it had been his own. I was a bit worried about mine for I drank too much. Oh yes I did. I knew it and I sincerely meant to mend my ways. If Monica intended to stuff us with meat at every meal then I should have to persuade her to give us extra vegetables too. We didn’t eat much meat at home. It wasn’t really very good. I would have to buy garlic myself since Monica would be bound to consider it vulgar and it was essential for health, cleansing the blood and clearing the skin. I like to look after myself even if I do drink too much. Because I drink too much.