Gender Readings. Top Ten. Ренц Т.Г - 35 стр.

       “Sometimes this place,” he said, “is very like Yorkshire, but
only when the weather’s bad. Or, over on the mountain side, Wales.”
       “Exactly what I told Gwen,” Trudy said. “I said Wales, I said,
it’s like Wales.”
       “Well, of course, there’s quite a difference, really. It —”
       “But Gwen simply squashed the idea. You see, she’s an older
woman, and being a schoolmistress — it’s so much different when a
man’s a teacher — being a woman teacher, she feels she can treat me
like a kid. I suppose I must expect it.”
       “Oh well —”
       “How long have you known Gwen?”
       “Several years,” he said. “Gwen’s all right, darling. A great friend
of my mother, is Gwen. Quite a member of the family.”
       Trudy wanted to move her lodgings in London but she was
prevented from doing so by a desire to be near Gwen, who saw
Richard daily at school, and who knew his mother so well. And
therefore Gwen’s experience of Richard filled in the gaps in his life
which were unknown to Trudy and which intrigued her.
       She would fling herself into Gwen’s room. “Gwen, what d’you
think? There he was waiting outside the office and he drove me
home, and he’s calling for me at seven, and next weekend...”
       Gwen frequently replied, “You are out of breath. Have you got
heart trouble?” — for Gwen’s room was only on the first floor. And
Trudy was furious with Gwen on these occasions for seeming not to
understand that the breathlessness was all part of her only being
twenty-two, and excited by the boyfriend.
       “I think Richard’s so exciting,” Trudy said. “It’s difficult to
believe I’ve only known him a month.”
       “Has he invited you home to meet his mother?” Gwen en-
quired.
       “No — not yet. Oh, do you think he will?”
       “Yes, I think so. One day I’m sure he will.”
       “Oh, do you mean it?” Trudy flung her arms girlishly round
Gwen’s impassive neck.
       “When is your father coming up?” Gwen said.
       “Not for ages, if at all. He can’t leave Leicester just now, and he
hates London.”
       “You must get him to come and ask Richard what his intentions
are. A young girl like you needs protection.”

                                  – 35 –