"I shall always believe what you tell me, Joan," she said.

"You've taken a bigger load than you imagine off my heart--which is Gilbert's.

And now sit down again and be comfortable and let's do what we used to do at school at night and talk about ourselves.

We've both changed since those days, haven't we ?" "Have we?
I don't think I have." Joan took another cigarette and went back to her chair.

Her small round shoulders looked very white against the black of a velvet cushion.