“No, nothing! I was just thinking—of something.”
“Something nice, I hope.”
“Yes, no—I don’t know.” It was horrible to blush like that. If she were only older and poised and sophisticated. Perhaps then she wouldn’t have to be pretending. But she would pretend, no matter how bold and unladylike it was to pretend such things and perhaps she would never be with him again in just this way, and it would be nice to remember.
In her reckless mood she surprised herself by saying things like Gloria sometimes. They lingered as long as they dared because it was such a good way of killing time, and when they had finished she made Terry go back to the smoker.
“They ought to have smoking cars for women,” she said. It was what Gloria might have said.
“But you don’t smoke,” said Terry, smiling.
“I know, but I shall learn.”
“Not right away, I hope,” he said, smiling.
Ruth found that Prince Aglipogue had controlled his nervous shock to the extent of having a very substantial lunch brought to him, which he seemed to be enjoying as much as if snakes had never been created, but he showed no more disposition to be sociable than before, for which Ruth was grateful. It would have spoiled her illusion that she and Terry were travelling alone together. Even she did not think he was gone long. He came back looking rather sober.
“Would you be very much frightened if we didn’t reach North Adams tonight at all?” he asked.