‘It must be dull for you in the countryside,’ he said. ‘Especially here. There’s not a lot of entertainment for a young girl.’
I stared at him frostily, in the hope that he might recognise his error. Girl indeed!
‘As it happens, I like it. I’m not a child to be entertained. When one has resources of one’s own - mental resources, you understand, then boredom isn’t a remote possibility.’
Looking back, I recognise the pomposity, but I thought my statement very mature at the time, a thought that crumbled slightly at the edges when the smile opposite simply broadened.
He shrugged. ‘Well, you’ll need all the resources you’ve got to live here for any length of time. Perhaps you’ll manage for the summer. What brought you here anyway, if I may be curious?’
‘That’s a question that might be considered rude,’ I said.
‘So it might. Then I’ll rephrase it. What brought you here anyway, if I may be rude? You don’t need to tell me, of course. It’s only idle interest on my part.’
‘Oh, it’s no great secret,’ I said. ‘Just about the whole world knows, I shouldn’t wonder. My father died some time ago, fairly recently, in fact, and my mother wanted to get away for a while. I’m keeping her company.’
‘I’m sorry,’ he said, and he sounded as though he meant it. That was the first time he showed sensitivity.
‘If I may be curious in turn, what brought you here?’ I asked, preferring to change the subject. ‘You don’t need to tell, of course.’
‘I won’t, but I’ll allow you to guess.’
‘I’m not sure I like guessing games,’ I said.
‘Don’t you? Oh, I love them. Anyway, you won’t get to satisfy your nosiness without.’
There came a long silence as we stared at each other, while I considered whether my sense of curiosity was greater than my sophistication.
‘I’m not nosy,’
I said weakly, knowing I had