Read Online Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie - Free Book Online

I was you,” she said comfortably.
    Nurse Hopkins said:
    â€œI’m not worrying….”
    II
    Young and severe in her black dress, Elinor sat in front of Mrs. Welman’s massive writing table in the library. Various papers were spread out in front of her. She had finished interviewing the servants and Mrs. Bishop. Now it was Mary Gerrard who entered the room and hesitated a minute by the doorway.
    â€œYou wanted to see me, Miss Elinor?” she said.
    Elinor looked up.
    â€œOh, yes, Mary. Come here and sit down, will you?”
    Mary came and sat in the chair Elinor indicated. It was turned a little towards the window, and the light from it fell on her face, showing the dazzling purity of the skin and bringing out the pale gold of the girl’s hair.
    Elinor held one hand shielding her face a little. Between the fingers she could watch the other girl’s face.
    She thought:
    â€œIs it possible to hate anyone so much and not show it?”
    Aloud she said in a pleasant, businesslike voice:
    â€œI think you know, Mary, that my aunt always took a great interest in you and would have been concerned about your future.”
    Mary murmured in her soft voice:
    â€œMrs. Welman was very good to me always.”
    Elinor went on, her voice cold and detached:
    â€œMy aunt, if she had had time to make a will, would have wished, I know, to leave several legacies. Since she died without making a will, the responsibility of carrying out her wishes rests on me. I have consulted with Mr. Seddon, and by his advice we have drawn up a schedule of sums for the servants according to their length of service, etc.” She paused. “You, of course, don’t come quite into that class.”
    She half-hoped, perhaps, that those words might hold a sting, but the face she was looking at showed no change. Mary accepted the words at their face value and listened to what more was to come.
    Elinor said:
    â€œThough it was difficult for my aunt to speak coherently, she was able to make her meaning understood that last evening. She definitely wanted to make some provision for your future.”
    Mary said quietly:
    â€œThat was very good of her.”
    Elinor said brusquely:
    â€œAs soon as probate is granted, I am arranging that two thousand pounds should be made over to you—that sum to be yours to do with absolutely as you please.”
    Mary’s colour rose.
    â€œTwo thousand pounds? Oh, Miss Elinor, that is good of you! I don’t know what to say.”
    Elinor said sharply:
    â€œIt isn’t particularly good of me, and please don’t say anything.”
    Mary flushed.
    â€œYou don’t know what a difference it will make to me,” she murmured.
    Elinor said:
    â€œI’m glad.”
    She hesitated. She looked away from Mary to the other side of the room. She said with a slight effort:
    â€œI wonder—have you any plans?”
    Mary said quickly:
    â€œOh, yes. I shall train for something. Massage, perhaps. That’s what Nurse Hopkins advises.”
    Elinor said:
    â€œThat sounds a very good idea. I will try and arrange with Mr. Seddon that some money shall be advanced to you as soon as possible—at once, if that is feasible.”
    â€œYou’re very, very good, Miss Elinor,” said Mary gratefully.
    Elinor said curtly:
    â€œIt was Aunt Laura’s wish.” She hesitated, then said, “Well, that’s all, I think.”
    This time the definite dismissal in the words pierced Mary’s sensitive skin. She got up, said quietly, “Thank you very much, Miss Elinor,” and left the room.
    Elinor sat quite still, staring ahead of her. Her face was quite impassive. There was no clue in it as to what was going on in her mind. But she sat there, motionless, for a long time….
    III
    Elinor went at last in search of Roddy. She found him in the morning room. He was standing staring out of the window. He turned sharply as Elinor came in.
    She