"I'm not too old to learn."
Elijah laughed consciously.
"It doesn't matter. We're acquainted now."
"It's up to you to make it worth her while to keep it up. She's rather particular about her friends."
Elijah was irritated, and not for the first time in his relations with Winston. Winston seemed to him to be contradictory. At times he was deferential to the point of enthusiasm; at times reserved, if not cynical. Elijah was not a close reasoner and he failed to understand that Winston's principles were a kind of moral straight-edge which he applied impartially. Winston had no hesitancy in calling attention to discrepancies.
"Helen Londsdale is a mighty bright girl. She may be of use to us," hazarded Elijah.
Winston's momentary glance was searching.
"I expect she will be," he answered curtly.
After a short pause, Elijah resumed the broken conversation.
"You're going for Seymour?"