'Well, what I say is,' said young Mrs. Vinney, who was of a cheerful habit, 'it's not a bit of use being depressed by the news, because no one can ever tell if it's true or not. It's all from that Bureau, and we all know what they are. Why, they said there weren't any Russians in England, when every one knew there were crowds, and they always say the Zepp. raids don't do any damage to factories and arsenals, and every one knows they do. They don't seem to mind what they say.'
'Well, for my part,' Evie said, 'I don't see why we shouldn't all be as chirpy as we can. We can't help by being glum, can we?'
'That's just it,' said Mrs. Vinney. 'Now, there's the theatre. Of course, you know, Vin and I wouldn't go to anything really festive just now, like the Girl on the Garden Wall, but I'm not ashamed to say we did go to the Man Who Stayed Behind.'
'Why wouldn't you go to anything really festive?' Alix asked, curious as to the psychology of this position.
Mrs. Vinney looked round for sympathy.
'Why, what a question! It's not the moment, of course. One wouldn't like to. You wouldn't, would you?'
'Oh, me. I'd go to anything I thought would amuse me.'
'Well,' Mrs. Vinney decided, 'I suppose you and I aren't a bit alike. I just couldn't, and there it is. I dare say it's all my silliness. But with the men out there in such danger, and laying down their lives the way they're doing ... well, I couldn't sit and look at the Girl on the Garden Wall, not if I had a stall free. The way I see it is, the men are fighting for us women, and where should we be but for them, and the least we can do is not to forget all about them, seeing gay musical plays. The way I'm made, I suppose, and I don't pretend to judge for others.'
'It's all a question of taste and feeling,' Kate pronounced absently, more interested in a new stitch she was introducing into her body-belt.
The fat dark girl, Miss Simon, came in on the mention of women. It was her subject.