Miss Silver Comes To Stay - Patricia Wentworth - Miss Silver 15: 1949 by Miss Silver Comes to Stay-3S(v1)(html)

Author:Miss Silver Comes to Stay-3S(v1)(html) [Stay-3S, Miss Silver Comes to]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

There was intelligence up to a point, but to overdo an effect is not intelligent. Perhaps it was only against this background of sudden tragic death and gathering scandal that the effect appeared in this instance to be overdone. Perhaps--

Her eyes followed Catherine Welby thoughtfully as she left the room.

* * *

CHAPTER 25

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When the door closed there was a little pause. To Rietta Cray it was like the moment when you stand above an icy pool and brace yourself to take the plunge. There came to her the thought that it need not be taken. Her confidence was still her own. She had only asked Miss Silver to lunch. If anything more had been implied, it could still be ignored. She became aware of Miss Silver's regard, and lifted her eyes to meet it.

Something incomprehensible happened. She experienced what many of Miss Silver's clients had experienced. When she thought about it afterwards the image which presented itself was that so often seen during the war, the spectacle of a house with the front ripped right off and every room on every floor open and bare to the passing eye.

Miss Silver's eye did not pass. It dwelt upon her, calmly and thoughtfully exploring. A smile changed the small, neat features. It imparted confidence, it diffused reassurance, and above all it charmed. Then the whole astonishing experience was over. It was the little dowdy ex-governess who said, "How can I help you, Miss Cray?"

Rietta had no answer ready. She found that she was being invited to sit down in her own house. A feeling of beneficent authority diffused itself. She leaned forward and said with a child's simplicity,

"We are in great trouble."

Miss Silver coughed gently.

"I believe I know something about it."

"Everyone does. I suppose it is always like this, only you don't think about it until it happens to yourself. Anyone can ask you anything. If you don't answer, they make something up. There's no privacy any more."

"Does that matter so much, Miss Cray?"

"You mean have I got anything to hide? I suppose I have. I suppose everyone has things that they would rather not have trampled upon--" On the last words her voice went down into the depths.

Miss Silver looked at her with concern. She saw painful evidences of a sleepless night and continuing strain. The fine eyes had marks like bruises under them. She said in her most practical voice,

"What did you have for breakfast?"

"I don't know."

Miss Silver coughed.

"It is just one o'clock. You have asked me to lunch, and I think we will defer our talk until we have had something to eat. Perhaps you will allow me to help you."

Rietta felt surprised and relieved. She wouldn't have to talk about it yet. The thought of lunch was rather dreadful, but it deferred the moment when she would have to talk about James Lessiter. She said,

"Everything is ready--Fancy will help me bring it in. That's the girl who is staying here--Frances Bell. You will meet her, and Carr.

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