An Education by Nick Hornby Read Free Book Online Page A

eyes are wide - she’s clearly awestruck. DAVID offers her a cigarette - a Gitane - which she takes. He lights it for her while she’s listening.
    DANNY
    Oh, it’s wonderful.
     
    JENNY
    I’ve only got . . . Well, I think it’s just called ‘Juliette Greco’. The one with the eyes on the sleeve. I saved up and got my French conversation teacher to bring it back after Christmas.
     
    HELEN
    You’ve got a French conversation teacher?
     
    JENNY
    Yes.
     
    HELEN
    Is that why you suddenly speak French for no reason?
     
    DAVID
    ( to JENNY)
    Have you never heard her sing?
    JENNY shakes her head again and smiles.Where would she have seen Juliette Greco? DANNY, meanwhile, is baffled.Who hasn’t seen Juliette Greco?
    She’s marvellous.
    DANNY
    You should see her in Paris, though, not here. David will take you.
     
    DAVID
    I’d love to.You’d fit right in.
     
    HELEN
    ( sympathetically )
    Better than here, really.
     
    DAVID
    It’s wonderful to find a young person who wants to know things. There’s so much I want you to see.
    HELEN and DANNY exchange glances and they all sip their drinks pensively, possibly to allow time for the double-entendre to disappear into the smoke.
    Are you still all right to come and have a look at that Pembroke Villas place with me on Friday, Danny?
     
    DANNY
    Oh. No. Can’t do it. There’s a Burne-Jones coming up at Christie’s on Friday. Desperate to get my hands on it.
     
    JENNY
    ( laughing in disbelief )
    You’re thinking of buying a Burne-Jones? A real one?
    DANNY
    I just have a feeling that the Pre-Raphaelites are going to take off.
     
    JENNY
    I love the Pre-Raphaelites.
     
    DAVID
    ( excited by her education )
    Do you?
     
    JENNY
    Yes, of course. Rossetti and Burne-Jones, anyway. Not Holman Hunt, so much. He’s so garish.
    DANNY looks at her.There’s clearly more to this schoolgirl than he thought.
    DAVID
    Absolutely! Why don’t we all go to the auction together?
     
    JENNY
    An auction. Gosh. How exciting.
     
    DANNY
    Next Friday morning.
     
    JENNY
    ( crestfallen )
    Oh. Friday.
    DANNY
    You’re busy?
     
    JENNY
    Well.Yes.
    She doesn’t want to explain why.
    DANNY
    Tant pis. Quel dommage . . .
    HELEN looks at him aghast.Why has he started speaking French?
    DAVID
    Are you sure you’re busy?
    JENNY hesitates.
    JENNY
    No. I’m sure I could . . . re-arrange. That would be lovely.
    The nightclub singer begins another song, ‘Wrapped AroundYour Little Finger’. DANNY and HELEN know this one and sing romantically along with one another. JENNY watches them entranced, then turns and smiles at DAVID.

22 INTERIOR: JENNY’S HOUSE - NIGHT
    JENNY lets herself quietly into the house.The hallway is dark, but she can hear noises from the kitchen. She pokes her head round the corner and sees her mother doing the washing-up.
    JENNY
    What are you doing?
     
    MARJORIE
    I can’t get this casserole dish clean. We had hot-pot tonight, and it’s all burnt round . . .
     
    JENNY
    It’s twenty-five to twelve. We finish tea at seven.
     
    MARJORIE
    I know what time it is. How was your evening?
     
    JENNY
    Best night of my life.
    JENNY looks at her. She doesn’t seem to have heard what JENNY has just said.
    Goodnight, Mum.
    MARJORIE carries on scrubbing, turning to look at JENNY as she leaves the kitchen.

23 INTERIOR: CLASSROOM - DAY
    JENNY, HATTIE and TINA are sitting on their desks, waiting for the start of a lesson. Nine or ten classmates are scattered round the room, talking distractedly, but
    JENNY’S group is much more animated: TINA and HATTIE are leaning forward, listening to JENNY , their eyes bright.They are clearly awestruck by JENNY’S tales of the outside world.
    JENNY
    I think there were two violins, one cello, two violas, a harp . . .
     
    TINA
    ( to HATTIE)
    I don’t want to know about Ravel. I want to know what else was on the programme.
    Laughter.
    JENNY
    There was nothing like that. He was the perfect gentleman. He just said he wanted to take me places and show me