She did not know what kind of an outburst to expect.

All of a sudden, taking the fan in both hands, Lloyd snapped it in two, and then breaking the pieces into a hundred splinters, threw them across the room into the open fireplace.

She stood with her back to the girls a moment, then, to Mary's unspeakable astonishment, forced herself to speak as calmly as if nothing had happened, asking Joyce some commonplace question about her packing.
There was a book she wanted her to slip into her trunk to read at the seashore.

She was afraid it would be forgotten if left till next day, so she went to her room to get it.
As the door closed behind her, Mary turned to Joyce in amazement.

"I don't see how it was possible for her to get over her temper so quickly," she exclaimed.