At one point, a girl who looked to be in her early twenties, with a Joan of Arc haircut, passed right in front of the glass. When Mitchell looked at her, the girl did an amazing thing: she looked back. She met his gaze with frank sexual meaning. Not that she "wanted" to have sex with him, necessarily. Only that she was happy to acknowledge, on this late-summer evening, that he was a man and she a woman, and if he found her attractive, that was all right with her. No American girl had ever looked at Mitchell like that.Deanie was right: Europe was a nice spot.
In the scene described, a young woman with a striking haircut captures Mitchell's attention as she walks by. Instead of averting her gaze, she confidently looks back at him, conveying an unspoken connection filled with sexual undertones. This moment marks a significant departure from his previous experiences, as it highlights a mutual acknowledgment of attraction between them.
Mitchell realizes that this interaction exemplifies the differences he perceives in European social dynamics compared to his American upbringing. The openness and confidence displayed by the girl reflect a cultural shift, making him appreciate the charm of Europe even more, as he contemplates the allure of relationships and interactions on the continent.
