"She doesn't mean any harm." Vera Xavier wasn't bothered by these things and said lightly, "She was actually just trying to remind us that it was getting late and we needed to hurry up and get ready for bed."
Shirley Ewing pursed her lips and said, "Vera, it's only because you're so good-natured that you don't bother with her. Fawn almost got into a fight with her yesterday."
Vera Xavier said thoughtfully, "You know, in this world, people who say nice things aren't always good, and people who are blunt aren't always bad. If you meet enough of those who praise you to your face but stab you in the back, you might even start to find Laura White kind of endearing."
Shirley Ewing didn't quite agree with Vera Xavier's words, but Vera didn't need her to. She just smiled faintly and said, "Lights out soon. You should go back to bed."
