Paul rose. "I don't want anything, thank you, Miss Winwood."
"But James and I do. So come and join us."
"Are you coming to the meeting?" he asked in surprise.
"Of course." She lifted her eyebrows. "Why not?"
"After what you have heard?"
"All the more reason for us to go." She smiled as she had smiled on that memorable evening six years ago when she had stood with the horrible pawn-ticket in her hand. "James has to support the Party. I have to support you. James will do the same as I in a day or two. Just give him time. His mind doesn't work very quickly, not as quickly as a woman's. Come," she said. "When we have a breathing space you can tell me all about it. But in the meantime I'm pretty sure I understand."
"How can you?" he asked wearily. "You have other traditions."
"I don't know about traditions; but I don't give my love and take it away again. I set rather too much value on it. I understand because I love you."
"Others with the same traditions can't understand."
"I'm not proposing to marry you," she said bluntly. "That makes a difference."