“I know how old you are. Emma told me when you were married. What’s the matter with you? You’re not old.”
Get up and fix the fire to hide your pleasure.
“You’re a sweet girl, Barbara. You’ve always been the only one of Emma’s friends I had any use for. You’re the only mutual friend we’ve ever had, I may say.”
“Thanks, Ben. Anyway I’m flattered that you’ve told me so much.”
“I wonder why I did. There’s something about you that makes people talk. What is it?”
“Is there?”
“I think it must be that you’re so honest, yourself. How do you happen to be so honest?”
“Why not? Most people are.”
“No they aren’t. Most women aren’t. Emma wasn’t. You knew that, didn’t you?”
She considers it. “Oh, Emma didn’t lie.”