"But after that she was a flop. Why? Largely because in spite of her intelligence and quick wits she couldn't act for nuts (he had ascertained that); but principally because she was spoiled and lazy, and drank too much--because she had expected success without having to work for it, and now drank and was lazy in a sort of furious annoyance at the fact that success was not to be had that way--a vicious circle of arrogance, and laziness and drink. In other words she had never got out of being the bad-tempered, haughty, tyrannical child she was at the beginning. She lacked the imagination and generosity to do so. And that brought him to the present Netta he had in front of him--the one who was making use of him in order to be near a man who might be of use to her. For the moment he was sorry for her, and rather happy. "
— Patrick Hamilton (Hangover Square)