I answered, in a meaning tone of voice: 'No, not in the way I want.'
'Ah, I understand,' she said. And, rising from the armchair, she started walking up and down the room in an impatient, tireless sort of way. 'What's the matter?' I asked.
'I'm hungry,' she replied, in a hard, irritated tone of voice: 'that's what's the matter.' She added, more gently: 'Aren't you hungry too?'
'So so,' I answered, 'but I don't want to eat too much, or I shall be sleepy later on.'
'You certainly take good care of yourself,' she said; and I gave a start, for it was an unpleasant remark and I was not prepared for it.
'What d'you mean by that?' I asked quietly.
She saw that she had offended me, and, stopping in front of me, touched me caressingly, saying: 'I'm sorry. . when one's hungry one becomes aggressive. . Don't take any notice of me.'
'It's quite true,' I said, remembering the incident with Antonio; 'hunger makes one irritable.'
'Well, well,' she went on hastily, 'how d'you like this frock?'
Possibly she asked me this in order to change the conversation; for, as I have said, it was the same dress that she had worn the evening before and I had already seen it several times. Nevertheless I said, indulgently: 'Yes, it's lovely, and it suits you very well. . Turn round and let me look.'