‘O Frank, how could you? And you said how lonely it was when we were the only visitors at the Swiss hotel.’
‘That was an inspiration. That finished him.’
‘And about the closeness of the Atlantic staterooms. I blushed to hear you.’
‘But he listened eagerly to it all. I could see it.’
‘I wonder if he really believed it. I have noticed that the maids and the waiters seem to look at us with a certain interest.’
‘My dear girlie, you will find as you go through life that every man will always look at you with a certain interest.’
Maude smiled, but was unconvinced.
‘Cheese, dear?’
‘A little butter, please.’
‘Some butter, waiter, and the Stilton. You know the real fact is, that we make the mistake of being much too nice to each other in public. Veterans don’t do that. They take the small courtesies for granted—which is all wrong, but it shows that they are veterans. That is where we give ourselves away.’