He held her away from him a moment to look down into her face.
‘Tiens! Tiens! Is gentle Judith going to start being a devil?... It would be amusing to see her try.’
‘Oh, I will! I’d be most successful. You shall see.’
He laughed, watching her.
‘May I help you? Shall we tread the primrose path together?’
She nodded.
‘Well, start by looking a little more as if you were going to enjoy it. Have you ever been happy? No. Whenever you come near to being, you start thinking: ‘Now I am happy. How interesting.... Am I really happy?’ You must learn a little continental abandon—I’ll teach you.’
‘You!’
‘—— and scornful as well! Oh, Judith, you’re getting on. I like to see your mouth trying to be hard. It has such pretty points.’
The music stopped, and she disengaged herself. A few people clapped, and she nodded and smiled to the band ... performing, performing; conspicuously self-possessed....