"Indeed! Well, I wouldn't be too much with her if I were you. I'm afraid she's anything but desirable."
"Who said I was much with her? Has Winnie been telling tales about me?"
"Don't be nasty, Gwen. You know Winnie never tells."
"There's no particular harm in Netta," protested Gwen, taking up the cudgels for her schoolmate out of sheer contrariness. "She's only rather lively and funny. I suppose that's no great crime."
"Are you sure Father would like her?"
"Dad doesn't know her, so I can't pretend to say what he'd think of her," retorted Gwen, shuffling out of the matter with what she knew was a lame excuse.