Miriam was wondering whether she should ask for an explanation of "glum", but remained silent as Louise "told Gertie tea at four", then led the way upstairs. In Louise's room, however, the chatter irritated her, and again Louise intrigued her by saying, "For heaven's sake, Miriam, what's up?"
"Nothing that I know of."
"Something is."
"Well if it's anything," Miriam temporized, "it's so little that it's practically nothing. Besides it's none of my business."
"All the more, then."
"The more what?"
"Necessary to spit it out, darling. Excuse my vulgarity. It's only my real nature coming out in the joy of getting away from that shack. If not your business, probably mine. Fire away."
"You'll think me Mrs. Grundyish."
"Anything to do with the patient?"
"Thanks for helping me. With Mr. Dare dear, so to speak."
"Oh!"
"It's only that,—well, now you've brought him through, shall you need to be as attentive to him?"
"Conspicuously attentive?"
"It amounts to that."
"People been saying catty things?"
"People always do."
"You and I don't let 'people' dictate our actions."
Miriam stopped to ask herself how much terri-
