ATDTDA (18): Conjugating Greek verbs, 493-494

[Paul Nightingale]

For Cyprian, Yashmeen cannot make eye-contact; she has to ignore him,
perhaps pretend that he isn't there. Eye-contact will draw attention to his
presence: as a spectator in the cinema, with Yashmeen the screen image? Cf.
the hidden admirers of Yashmeen's moonlit bathing (490); or even the Ns,
"not exactly out spying" on 493.

The sound of her voice has apparently inspired his erection (494): in this
passage there is no indication that she has made eye-contact with him as
they speak. They seem to be in transit "from one University obligation to
another" (493), walking side-by-side; so it remains possible that, looking
ahead as she speaks, she gives the impression that she does ignore him,
erase his presence by accusing him of being "another of these silly girls"
(494). She "vanishe[s] towards the Girton Gatehouse", where he cannot
follow, his exclusion marked by the "inelastic embarrassment" that confirms
in fact he isn't "another of these silly girls": a protest of difference,
perhaps, a different uniform?