Sometimes I think I surely must be nothing--nothingness." He shook his head.
"No," he said.

"No.

I only want to be left alone." "Not to have anything to do with anybody ?" she queried ironically.
"Not to any extent." She watched him--and then she bubbled with a laugh.
"I think you're funny," she said.

"You don't mind ?" "No--why--It's just as you see it .-- Jim Bricknell's a rare comic, to my eye." "Oh, him!--no, not actually.

He's self-conscious and selfish and hysterical.