Part 34 (2/2)
”Of course I didn't.”
”Of course you did. He says you must have seen. And it's worrying him no end.”
”I saw something. But he needn't worry. I understood all right”
”What did you see?”
”Nothing. Nothing that mattered.”
”It matters most awfully to me.”
”I don't think it need,” said Barbara.
”But it _does_. In a sense I don't mind what he does, and in a sense I do. I still care enough for that.”
”I don't think there was anything you need mind so awfully.”
”Yes, but there _was_ something. He said there was. He was afraid you'd misunderstand it. He said he was bending over her when you came in.”
”Well, he _was_ bending a bit.”
”What was _she_ doing?”
”She was laughing.”
”In hysterics?”
She saw it all.
”I suppose you might call it hysterics. They weren't nice hysterics, though. She isn't a nice woman.”
”No. But he was making love to her, and she was laughing at him. She was nice enough for that.”
”If that's nice.”
”Why, what else could the poor woman do if she's honest?”
”Oh, she's honest enough in _that_ way,” said Barbara.
”And he couldn't see it. He's so intent on his own beautiful Postlethwaite nose, he can't see anything that goes on under it....
Still, honest or not honest, she's a beast, Barbara. When they'd been such pals and he'd helped her, to have gone and rounded on the poor thing like that. She might just as well have pulled his Postlethwaite nose. It couldn't have hurt more.”
”Oh, I think he'll get over it.”
”I mean it couldn't have hurt _me_ more.”
”She _is_ a beast,” said Barbara. ”I bet you anything you like it's her fault. She drove him to it.”
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