She had lolled about for three years at Girton with the kind of books she could equally have read at home--Jane Austen, Dickens, Conrad, all in the library downstairs, in complete sets. How had that pursuit, reading the novels that others took as their leisure, let her think she was superior to anyone else?
The protagonist reflects on her time at Girton College, where she spent three years indulging in classic literature, such as works by Jane Austen and Dickens. Despite having access to these books at home, she convinced herself that her academic engagement with them set her apart, fostering a sense of superiority over others.
This internal conflict highlights the irony of her situation; while she immersed herself in esteemed literature, she ultimately questions the validity of her perceived intellectual status. The distinction between casual reading and scholarly pursuit raises deeper questions about what truly constitutes knowledge and superiority.
