A number of my friends have a lesson every Thursday
morning, and meet at one house or another."
"Irregular French verbs, I suppose. So fascinating, and one does forget so.
I thought I'd never brush up my French."
Not for anything would she have forced Maria into the most innocent
equivocation, and she rattled on about her wonderful summer as people are
expected to do after their first visit to Europe.
No time could have been more propitious for this necessary understanding
with Maria, who was feeling amiable, apologetic, as limber as Joan, and
almost as warm. She had also lost two-thirds of a pound.
II
Alexina began as soon as Joan left them alone on the shady side of the wide
piazza.
"I have a lot of things to tell you," she said nervously. "I have to make
certain economies and I want the benefit of your advice."
Mrs. Abbott looked up from her embroidery. "Of course, darling. I was
afraid you were going a little too fast for young people."
"That is not it. I always managed well enough....You know we've never gone
the limit: polo at Burlingame and Monterey, gambling, big parties and
all the rest of it. I've never run into debt or spent any of my capital.
But..."
Maria began to feel anxious and took off the large round shell-rimmed
spectacles that enlarged stitches and print. "Yes?"
"You know I had bonds--about forty thousand dollars' worth--those that
mother left: I spent those that Ballinger and Geary gave me on the house
and one thing and another.
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