m only one point of view and going all out for it from that
point of view. Convictions. Not mucking about all round a thing and
seeing it from about twenty different sides like I do. You know, you
can't possibly pull out this big, booming sort of stuff they call
success if you're going to see anybody's point of view but your own. You
must have convictions. Yes, and narrower than that, not convictions but
conviction. Only one conviction--that you're right and that every one
who thinks differently from you is wrong to blazes." He laughed. "And
I'm dashed if I ever _think_ I'm right, let alone conviction of it. I
can always see the bits of right on the other side of the argument.
That's me. Dash me!"

She said, "Go on, Marko. I like this."

"Well, that's all there is to it, Nona. These conviction chaps, these
booming politicians and honours-list chaps, these Bagshaw chaps--you
know Bagshaw?--they go like a cannon ball. They go like hell and smash
through and stick when they get there. My sort's like the footballs you
see down at the school punt-about. Wherever there's a punt I feel it and
respond to it. My sort's out to be kicked--" He laughed again. "But I
couldn't be any other sort."

She said, "I'm glad you couldn't be, Marko. You're just the same as you
used to be. I'm glad you're the same."

He did not reply.

VII

She sat briskly forward in the big armchair in which she faced him,
making of the motion a movement as though throwing aside a turn the
conversation had taken. "Well, go on, Marko. Go on talking. I'm not
going to let you stop talking yet. I love that about how people get
success nowadays. It's jolly true. I never thought of it before. Yes,
you're still a terribly thinky person, Marko. Go on. Think some more.
Out loud."

Caressing--drawing him on--just as of old.

He said thoughtfully, "I tell you a thing I often think a lot about,
Nona. You being here like this puts it in my mind. Conventions."

She smiled teasingly. "Ah, poor Marko. I knew you'd simply hate it, my
coming in like this. Does it seem terribly unconventional, improper, to
you, shut up with me in your office?"

He shook his head. "It seems very nice. That's all it seems. But it does
bring into my mind that you're the sort of person that doesn't think
tuppence about what's usually done or what's not usually done; and that
reminded me of things I've thought about conventions. Look here, Nona,
this really is rather interesting--"