"It's about John Spence, isn't it, dear?" Virginia asked.
"I'm a fool," said Joan again. "I don't like him as much as I used to."
"Is that why you're a fool?" asked Virginia with a little laugh.
"No," said Joan seriously. "For caring about things changing, because one is grown up. I used to think it would be nothing but bliss to be grown up. Now I wish Nancy and I were little girls again. We used to be very happy together. We always talked about everything, it didn't matter what it was."
"And now you don't. You don't talk about John Spence."
Joan's tears flowed afresh. "I don't want to talk about it, Virginia," she said. "I am sure you would never understand what I feel. Whatever I said you would think I meant something else; and I don't a bit. I don't mind his liking Nancy best. I don't want him to like me more than he does."
"Oh, my darling girl! I think I understand it all better than you do yourself. You are unhappy, and you don't know why."
"Then tell me why."
"Well, to begin with, you are just a little jealous."
"Oh, Virginia! And you said you understood!"