Quote 4
"No more doing that," I say. "Promise me?" […]
"Gemma?" she says after a moment has passed.
"Hmmm?"
"You won't tell, will you?"
"No."
More secrets. How did I end up keeping so many? (15.142-151)
In this book, secrets can be pretty heavy—like Ann's secret (cutting herself) that Gemma discovers by accident. In order to keep her friendship alive, and build trust with Ann, she promises not to tell. We wonder if she wanted to? Do you think it would help Ann in this situation?
Quote 5
"What are they doing?"
"Putting in lines for electric lights," Tom answers, coughing into a white handkerchief with his initials stitched on a corner in a distinguished black script. (3.24-25)
This little detail gives us a clue about the class of Gemma and her brother—they must have some money in the family since Tom has an elegant, decorative nose rag.
Quote 6
"Yes, I am, as you put it, quite all right." I could laugh, it's such a lie—I am most certainly not all right. (3.46)
Gemma lies to Tom about being okay after her mother's death—though since she is answering his cryptic question about whether she is a virgin or not, perhaps this isn't a lie. While Tom isn't lying in his question, communication would be a whole lot clearer if he'd just say what he means.