“That depends whether we carry ourselves as though we expected pelting,” said Ann Veronica.
“We won’t.”
“No fear!”
“Then, as we succeed, it will begin to sidle back to us. It will do its best to overlook things—”
“If we let it, poor dear.”
“That’s if we succeed. If we fail,” said Capes, “then—”
“We aren’t going to fail,” said Ann Veronica.
Life seemed a very brave and glorious enterprise to Ann Veronica that day. She was quivering with the sense of Capes at her side and glowing with heroic love; it seemed to her that if they put their hands jointly against the Alps and pushed they would be able to push them aside. She lay and nibbled at a sprig of dwarf rhododendron.
“FAIL!” she said.