OUR FRIEND JUDITH
475
"Oh. Oh, I suppose you and Betty discussed it?" This was
with a small unfriendly smile.
"Well, Judith, you must see we were likely to?"
She gave this her consideration and said: "I don't under–
stand why people discuss other people. Oh-I'm not criticizing
you. But I don't see why you are so interested. I don't under–
stand human behavior and I'm not particularly interested."
"I think you should write to the Rineiris."
"I wrote and thanked them, of course."
"I don't mean that."
"You and Betty have worked it out?"
"Yes, we talked about it. We thought we should talk to
you, so you should write to the Rineiris."
"Why?"
"For one thing, they are both very fond of you."
"Fond," she said smiling.
"Judith, I've never in my life felt such an atmosphere of
being let down."
Judith considered this. "When something happens that
shows one there
is
really a complete
gulf
in understanding,
what is there to say?"
"It could scarcely have been a complete
gulf
in under–
standing. I suppose you are going to say we are being inter–
fering?"
Judith showed distaste. "That
is
a very stupid word. And
it's a stupid idea. No one can interfere with me if I don't let
them. No, it's that I don't understand people. I don't under–
stand why you or Betty should care. Or why the Rineiri's
should, for that matter," she added with the small tight smile.
"Judith !"
"If
you've behaved stupidly, there's no point in going
on. You put an end to it."
"What happened? Was it the cat?"
"Yes, I suppose so. But it's not important." She looked at
me, saw my ironical face, and said: "The cat was too young to
