‘Oh, Roddy, how you do laugh at me!’
‘I can’t help it, Judy. You are so incredibly solemn. You don’t mind, do you? Please don’t mind. I adore people who make me laugh.’
It was that his laughter left her out, making her feel heavy and unhumorous. If only he would teach her to play with him, how quick and apt he would find her!
‘I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘Only I do wish I could be ready for you.’
Being himself, was Roddy more likely or less likely to fall in love with a person he never took seriously?
‘You’d forgive anybody, however badly they treated you, wouldn’t you, Judy?’
‘Forgiving or not forgiving doesn’t mean much to me. I never could feel wronged. I might not be able to help feeling hurt, but forgiveness wouldn’t come into it.’
‘Hmm!’ said Roddy. ‘Are you sure you’re so civilized? Personally I never forgive anybody anything. I’m like God. I love my grievances, and want people to feel them.’
‘I know you’re laughing really. I know it isn’t true, what you say.’
He said quickly, quite seriously: