The story is basically about a woman, by name Diana Lucas, who has two friends: Iris Clark and Mary Hirst. Diana seems to take care of Iris, who has recently been injured in a car accident and needs assistance. In fact Diana makes use of both Iris and Mary. The author conveys the theme that we trust our friends, take them into our confidence and expect them to help us. But sometimes we don’t even suspect that we can keep a snake in our bosoms.
Diana is a beautiful woman, who is used to being in the center of attention. She wears high-heeled shoes and smokes Turkish cigarettes, which makes us believe that she is an elegant, stylish woman. She is fond of luxurious, expensive things. Diana is a business woman, who makes people do profitable things for her. She gets into the habit of giving instructions she gets what she wants no matter which way. Diana sells Iris a golden screen at a high price, though she have bought it for a song and despite the fact that it is her friend to whom she sells it. She lies Iris that it is made by a famous designer and emphasizes that it made of real gold and technique is interesting. Diana even takes over all Iris’s property from her house to her heater. So, she is a hypocritical woman, who wears a mask.
Mary is the protagonist, she contrasts starkly with Diana. She is lacking in elegance, sophistication and business flair. Mary submitted to Diana as to a person of far stronger will. However, she manages to unmask Diana. Having found a cheque in Diana’s bag, Mary began to scorn her friend. She has neither returned Diana’s greeting nor taken her hand. Mary is disappointed with her friend. She does not expect Diana to have played a trick on one of her friends. However, Diana does not understand that there is something wrong in their relationship. She believes that Mary is jealous of her and the next day she will make it all right on the telephone.
So, through the characters, their words and actions Frances King shows that one should be careful, choosing his friends and friendship can’t be based on hypocrisy.
As for me, I think, that sooner or later, people like Diana will suffer from lack of friends and it will stop being all right.