He had been mistaken again. She was in some self-satisfied world of her own. He and his hopes were accidentals, violations to her. It drove her father to a pitch of mad exasperation. He had had to put up with this all his life, from her.

‘Well, what do you say?’ he cried.

She winced. Then she glanced down at her father, half-frightened, and she said:

‘I didn’t speak, did I?’ as if she were afraid she might have committed herself.

‘No,’ said her father, exasperated. ‘But you needn’t look like an idiot. You’ve got your wits, haven’t you?’

She ebbed away in silent hostility.

‘I’ve got my wits, what does that mean?’