Joanne looked at the towel with which she was wiping her fingers. “Well no; I think I felt more excited and exultant than anything else. Do you know, Win, I’m rather dreading Gradda’s knowing about it. I don’t know what in the world she will say.”
“When Gradda heard it she was awfully vexed,
And said, ‘Joanne, what will you do next?’”
paraphrased Winnie laughing.
Joanne joined in the laugh. “That’s just what she will say, but fortunately she won’t have a chance to say it till I get there, which will not be for another week. Alas and alack! that it should be only one more week. Do you think I am dreadfully depraved, Win, because I am not crazy to join Gradda?”
“Silly! Of course not. Am I crazy to fly to the arms of my well-beloved parents? Are any of the girls? I wot not. Of course we shouldn’t want an endless separation, but while we are in this heavenly spot and having the best sort of times we can’t be expected to rejoice at leaving, especially when our parents are perfectly comfortable where they are.”
“Well, I am glad you think that way about it, for I have been bringing myself to task for not being keener about going to join Gradda.”
“I have warned you before, my young miss, not to take yourself too seriously. Miss Dodge says it doesn’t do to be too introspective.”
“Dear me, I don’t think I could be accused of that,” replied Joanne. “I have always thought I had never been enough so.”
“Then don’t begin to overdo it now. There are no half measures with you, old dear, and once you begin to turn yourself inside out you will bare your entire soul to self-censure and leave nothing nice and normal to live with.”