He came up just then, limping, on his crutches.

We turned along the terrace, and walked on, slowly.

‘You know, Helen,’ he said, ‘I can’t think what she sees in me . . . I must seem such a dull old buffer to her . . . especially now. I wish you could see her dance! You know, Helen,’ he said again, ‘she reminds me sometimes of you, when you used to dance . . . and I can’t dance with her!’

I thought:

‘What can I say?’

I was very sorry for Guy.

I said:

‘She is very good tempered, and she even laughs at herself. . . .’

Guy said:

‘You don’t much like her, and I don’t think Mother does, but you will when you know her better, I feel quite sure of that.’