“You? Why, I thought things were going beautifully with you. I am sure we have all been remarking on how well you look.”
Joanne drew a long sigh and looked down into her plate. “I shall not be looking well if I have to be bored to death all summer.”
“That doesn’t sound cheerful. What’s the idea? as Ned would say.”
“Gradda wants to drag me off with her to one of those horrid, stupid watering places she likes to go to, where they do nothing but dress up and do fancy work. I loathe them, more than ever now since I know what really good times are. I never knew why I was so discontented at one of those fashionable resorts, but now I know.”
Mrs. Pattison smiled. “What special one rouses your ire on this occasion?”
“Oh, that Jamestown near Newport.”
“Why, that’s rather a nice place.”
“For some,” returned Joanne plaintively. “Did you know, Cousin Sue,” she went on impressively, “that Cousin Ned has offered the lodge to our troop for the month of July, and that the girls are simply wild about it?”
“Has he? The dear fellow, it’s just like him. You see we are going down to Virginia, to my sister’s, for July, and shall not be using the lodge.”
“But don’t you see,” Joanne laid down her fork, “don’t you see, Cousin Sue, that if Gradda insists upon dragging me off with her I shall miss all those heavenly times.”