“You’re as bad as Nell!”
But Deb was wondering what effect Gillian’s pioneer boldness might have on the psychology of her disciple.
III
Nell sat glowering ... and the other three girls were sympathetically silent, listening the while to Zoe’s voice hailing Silvester as “Bob” and eagerly enlightening him as to the adventures and whereabouts of a certain “Guiseppi” who was evidently an intimate acquaintance of a mutual past....
“She’s the Socialist in sex par excellence,” murmured Gillian, “a reproof to all us snobs....” And then Zoe bubbled into the room.
“Gillian, isn’t it too funny for words, I used to know your man quite well—at least I suppose he’s your husband’s man—at least I suppose he isn’t your husband—but that isn’t what I came to tell you....”
“Anyway, I was aware of it already,” Gillian laughed.
“What—about Pinto? My dear, how could you be—unless, of course, Cliffe told Antonia, and she told you? You know, Antonia, I never like to say anything and I’m very fond of Cliffe, but I do think he talks too much.... You remember that evening when Pinto went mad in my flat last year?”
“Will I ever forget it? and will your brother ever forget it, Deb? and will Captain Braithwaite and Mr Sam Wright and the little Belgian corporal ever forget it? Oh, and the macaroni merchant from round the corner—he had most cause to remember it, hadn’t he? Did he ever get damages, by the way?