‘Been giving Martin a dancing-lesson?’ he said.
‘Goodness, no! He’s been teaching me. I didn’t know how.’
‘Oh?—How did you get on?’
‘Quite well, thank you. It’s easy. I think I can dance now.’
‘Good!’
It was plain he was not interested; or else was incredulous. He thought she was just a stumbling novice; he was not going to dance with her or even offer to go on teaching her. Roddy would never have bothered to give her hints or be patient while she was awkward. He was so good himself that he could not condescend to incompetence. But Judith, still, though more doubtfully, exalted, said:
‘Shall we dance?’
He looked surprised.
‘All right. Certainly. Just let me cool down a bit.’
He was not in any hurry. He sat on the table and watched Marietta’s neatly moving feet.