‘What were we like? Who was the nicest? Martin of course: you needn’t answer that. But who was the most attractive? Which did you like best?’
‘If you can’t remember I shan’t remind you.’
‘Oh, I believe it was me!’ cried Julian; ‘I’m almost sure it was. Haven’t I always been your favourite?’
She laughed teasingly in his face.
‘Well, I’m sure I deserved to be,’ he said. ‘You were my favourite anyway. Absolutely my favourite woman. You always have been.... Have we changed very much?’
‘No. Very little.’
‘Which of us has changed most?’
Judith paused a moment and then answered: ‘Mariella.’
And directly she had said it she realized afresh how true it was: too true to have been so lightly spoken. Mariella had changed indeed.
Her smile, and Julian’s, faded abruptly.