She placed her bag carefully upon the sofa, and examined the new shawl as she did so.
"Well, I gather he's a little fretful," answered Joan with a smile.
"That's a bad sign," said the girl.

"Means he's feeling better." She seated herself on the sofa and fingered the shawl.

"Did you give it her ?" she asked.
"Yes," admitted Joan.

"I rather fancied her in it." "She'll only pawn it," said the girl, "to buy him grapes and port wine." "I felt a bit afraid of her," laughed Joan, "so I made her promise not to part with it.

Is he really very ill, her husband ?" "Oh, yes, there's no make-believe this time," answered the girl.