she persisted.

‘Not always,’ he said coldly.

‘But don’t you think that’s very wicked?’

‘Wicked?’

‘Yes. I think it’s CRIMINAL to have so little connection with your own body that you don’t even know when you are ill.’

He looked at her darkly.

‘Yes,’ he said.

‘Why don’t you stay in bed when you are seedy? You look perfectly ghastly.’

‘Offensively so?’ he asked ironically.

‘Yes, quite offensive. Quite repelling.’