夜雨聆风I was instantly horrified. Unconsciously I had spoken as though she andI were contemporaries – but I realized suddenly that she was well over tenyears my junior and that I had been unwittingly extremely tactless.
I apologized as best I could. She cut into my stammering phrases.
‘No, no, I didn’t mean that. Please don’t apologize. I meant just simplywhat I said. I don’t know. I was never what you meant by “young”. I neverhad what is called “a good time”.’
Something in her voice, a bitterness, a deep resentment, left me at a loss.
I said, rather lamely, but with sincerity: ‘I’m sorry.’
She smiled. ‘Oh, well, it doesn’t matter. Don’t look so upset. Let’s talkabout something else.’
I obeyed. ‘Tell me something about the other people here,’ I said. ‘Unlessthey’re all strangers to you.’