Read Online They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie - Free Book Online

is very jumpy—but I’ve never been able to alter people—I don’t see how you can. So it wouldn’t be any good worrying, would it?”
    â€œMildred’s not very happy, either, is she?”
    â€œOh no,” said Carrie Louise. “Mildred never is happy. She wasn’t as a child. Quite unlike Pippa who was always radiant.”
    â€œPerhaps,” suggested Miss Marple, “Mildred has cause not to be happy?”
    Carrie Louise said quietly:
    â€œBecause of being jealous? Yes, I daresay. But people don’t really need a cause for feeling what they do feel. They’re just made that way. Don’t you think so, Jane?”
    Miss Marple thought briefly of Miss Moncrieff, a slave to a tyrannical invalid mother. Poor Miss Moncrieff who longed for travel and to see the world. And of how St. Mary Mead in a decorous way had rejoiced when Mrs. Moncrieff was laid in the churchyard and Miss Moncrieff, with a nice little income, was free at last. And of how Miss Moncrieff, starting on her travels, had got no further than Hayéres where, calling to see one of “mother’s oldest friends,” she had been so moved by the plight of an elderly hypochondriac that she had cancelled her travel reservations and taken up her abode in the villa to be bullied, overworked, and to long, wistfully, once more, for the joys of a wider horizon.
    Miss Marple said:
    â€œI expect you’re right, Carrie Louise.”
    â€œOf course, my being so free from cares is partly due to Jolly. Dear Jolly. She came to me when Johnnie and I were just married and was wonderful from the first. She takes care of me as though I were a baby and quite helpless. She’d do anything for me. I feel quiteashamed sometimes. I really believe Jolly would murder someone for me, Jane. Isn’t that an awful thing to say?”
    â€œShe’s certainly very devoted,” agreed Miss Marple.
    â€œShe gets so indignant.” Mrs. Serrocold’s silvery laugh rang out. “She’d like me to be always ordering wonderful clothes, and surrounding myself with luxuries, and she thinks everybody ought to put me first and to dance attendance on me. She’s the one person who’s absolutely unimpressed by Lewis’ enthusiasm. All our poor boys are, in her view, pampered young criminals and not worth taking trouble over. She thinks this place is damp and bad for my rheumatism, and that I ought to go to Egypt or somewhere warm and dry.”
    â€œDo you suffer much from rheumatism?”
    â€œIt’s got much worse lately. I find it difficult to walk. Horrid cramps in my legs. Oh well”—again there came that bewitching elfin smile, “age must tell.”
    Miss Bellever came out of the French windows and hurried across to them.
    â€œA telegram, Cara, just came over the telephone. Arriving this afternoon, Christian Gulbrandsen. ”
    â€œChristian?” Carrie Louise looked very surprised. “I’d no idea he was in England.”
    â€œThe Oak Suite, I suppose?”
    â€œYes, please, Jolly. Then there will be no stairs.”
    Miss Bellever nodded and turned back to the house.
    â€œChristian Gulbrandsen is my stepson,” said Carrie Louise. “Eric’s eldest son. Actually he’s two years older than I am. Her’s one of the trustees of the Institute—the principal trustee. How very annoying that Lewis is away. Christian hardly ever stays longer thanone night. He’s an immensely busy man. And there are sure to be so many things they would want to discuss.”
    Christian Gulbrandsen arrived that afternoon in time for tea. He was a big heavy featured man, with a slow methodical way of talking. He greeted Carrie Louise with every sign of affection.
    â€œAnd how is our little Carrie Louise? You do not look a day older. Not a day.”
    His hands on her shoulders—he stood smiling down at her. A hand tugged his