"It's about the War."
"God bless my soul, you don't say so. You're generally so cheerful about it and so hopeful about our winning. What has happened to give you the hump? We've blown up any amount of mines and occupied the craters, and we've driven down several German aeroplanes."
"Yes, I know," she said, "I admit all that; but I've just met Mrs. Rowley."
"And a very cheery little party she is, too."
"That," said Francesca, "is just it."
"What's just what?" I said.
"Don't be so flippant."
"And don't you be so cryptic. What's Mrs. Rowley's cheerfulness done to you?"
"I'll tell you how it happened," she said. "We met; 'twas at a tea, and first of all we talked about committees."
"Committees!" I said. "How glorious! Are there many?"