He was hurt between the past glamour with Miriam and the knowledge that his mother fretted. He had meant not to say anything, to refuse to answer. But he could not harden his heart to ignore his mother.
“I DO like to talk to her,” he answered irritably.
“Is there nobody else to talk to?”
“You wouldn’t say anything if I went with Edgar.”
“You know I should. You know, whoever you went with, I should say it was too far for you to go trailing, late at night, when you’ve been to Nottingham. Besides” — her voice suddenly flashed into anger and contempt — ”it is disgusting — bits of lads and girls courting.”