One or two of them laughed. She could now recognize the three faces in front of her. Jennifer must be somewhere by the fireplace. There was constraint in the room. She thought with awful jealousy: ‘Ah, they hate my coming. They thought they were getting rid of me at last. They come here secretly without me, to insinuate themselves. They all want her. They have all hated me always.’ She said:
‘Give me a cigarette, someone.’
Jennifer’s voice broke in suddenly with a sort of harsh clangour. From her voice, Judith knew how wild her eyes must be.
‘Here, here’s a cigarette, Judith.... Have something to eat. Or some cocoa. Oh—there was a bottle of cherry-brandy, but I believe we’ve finished it.’
Horrible confusion in her voice, a stumbling hurry of noise....
‘I have just licked up the last dregs,’ said a deep voice.
‘Who’s that who spoke then?’ said Judith softly and sweetly.
‘Oh ...’ cried Jennifer shrilly, ‘Geraldine, you haven’t met Judith yet.’
What was she saying? Geraldine Manners was staying the week-end, no, was wrestling on the lawn with her; had just arrived, no, had been in the room for months, since the summer, for they were such very great friends....
‘How do you do? I’m guessing what you are like from the way you speak,’ said Judith softly, laughingly.