They were laughing at nothing at all, except that they were boy and girl together and it was all glorious fun.

But the sight of them gave Michael a sudden spasm of envy.

With all this enlightenment that had come to him during this last week, there had come no gleam of what that simplest and commonest aspect of human nature meant.

He had never felt towards a girl what that round-faced German boy felt.

He was not sure, but he thought he disliked girls; they meant nothing to him, anyhow, and the mere thought of his arm round a girl's waist only suggested a very embarrassing attitude.