She knew that she ought to talk frankly to Joe, and get over this silly habit of never mentioning Amy's name! She grew determined, but then weak.

For what could she say to him about Amy?
What did she really want to say?
"Do I know poor Amy was anything bad?
Wasn't she good to me?
Would I care to try to talk against her?
No.
And even if I did, you see, it would only hurt me with Joe--as it should." So she went on in different moods.

And now she saw her sister's face smiling out of clear violet eyes, and again she felt a small gloved hand on her husband drawing him gently back--back and back into the past.
Why was Amy so much stronger now?
"Because Fanny Carr has been clever enough to take me out of the life I was making and pitch me into Amy's life, where her hold on Joe was strongest.

I'm in her setting.

That's the trouble!" But she had Amy's friends to dine one night, as in her calmer moods she knew was the only sensible course.