"A thoughtful person!" That Joan was not quite sure from whom she received it annoyed Alice far more than if she had boasted of it as one of Gilbert's numerous gifts.

She needed no screwing up now to say what she had rather timidly brought this cool young slip of a thing there to discuss.
"Will you tell me about yourself and Gilbert ?" she asked quietly.

There was no need for Joan to act complete composure.

She felt it.

"What is there to tell, my dear ?" "I hope there isn't anything--I mean anything that matters.