Effie was smart, and level-headed — more level-headed than either Annie or Hanna, for sure. She was also good at keeping a secret, Johanna thought — not that she had any intention of telling Effie where she had come up with such an idea. She brought a puzzle over to Effie's boarding house room, and had completed the edges of the puzzle before she focused on the real questions she wanted to ask Effie. It was important that she had control over her thoughts first.

"Effie," Hanna said, looking up from where her puzzle was set on the floor, "Can I ask you something scandalous?"