“Well, let’s hope they learn their lesson by next week,” Effie said, which was probably wishful thinking. Once the first few days of the year, when everyone had lost their minds and seemingly all common sense, had passed, they might yet settle down.
She had quite as little goodwill left as Viola did, although – Effie considered, with a small twitch at the corner of her mouth – really she ought to be in better spirits this year. She was trying not to get too ahead of herself – trying not to tell too many people, or to think about having an escape route from the Ministry at some stage in the future – but, however she tried to be sensible, she felt fit to bursting with it. “And speaking of hopes,” Effie said quietly, scooting a little nearer to have a more private conversation, “I have – some news.”
She had quite as little goodwill left as Viola did, although – Effie considered, with a small twitch at the corner of her mouth – really she ought to be in better spirits this year. She was trying not to get too ahead of herself – trying not to tell too many people, or to think about having an escape route from the Ministry at some stage in the future – but, however she tried to be sensible, she felt fit to bursting with it. “And speaking of hopes,” Effie said quietly, scooting a little nearer to have a more private conversation, “I have – some news.”
