tasanyonebutistandforobedestroyed”
ii
”p,raisingherred,thepastrysheasterdead,laneforyearsandisaidtoaninghofrobroaderlyrriedinthearistoiss,youknoywork”rydove,therecipientofthesenfidences,noddedherheadgently”andpsay”sydayoffandioinoff,thatsphasntsooffhegoesanditellgladysshellhavetonagealoonightshejustsaysalright,scru,then,ybackstuedoutshesneaksitanagenotoday””anage,senualittle”sheoutlinedafepnoddedunaryncluded”youanyoullpsoundeddoubtful
”ifgladysdoesntebackinti”
”sheebaean,youknoiss,thoughyoueisgoingtogetrriednextspring,soshetellsdontknoarriedstateslike,thesegirlsdontissoclearitaup””illdothat,”saidry”illgoanddoitnow”
thelightshadnotbeentuedoninthedrathoughadelefortescueillsittingonthesofabehindtheteatray”shallisrsfortescue”ryaskedadeledidnotanswerrysaoadelefortescuesuddenlyandsly
iii
”andedinspepatiently
thedoptly:
”cyanideprobablyinthetea”
”cyanide,”tteredneele
thedohslightcuriosity
”youretakingthishardanyspecialreason”
”sheurderess,”saidneele
”andshetusouttobeavictihyoullhavetothinkagain,you”neelenoddedhisfacelyset
poisonedrightunderhisnosetaxineinrexfortesatefalyaffairorsoitseedadelefortes,jenniferhadgooherotoeletters,elainehadbeenthelasttoleavethelibraryacrdingtoheradelehadthenbeeninperfecthealthandhadjustbeenpouringherselfoutalastcupofteaalastcupofteayes,ithadindeedbeenherlastcupofteaandafterthatablanktinutes,perhaps,untilrydovehadeintotheroonddisveredthebodyandduringthattinutes
inspectoeelesselfandoutintothekitchen
sittinginarsein
”ebackyet”
”gladysnoshesnotbackbe,isuspect,untilelevenoclock””shedethetea,yousay,andtookitin”
”ididnttouyoreidontbelievegladysdidanythingsheshouldntshedoathinglikethatnotgladysshesagoodenoughgirl,sirabitfoolishlike,thatsallnotked”no,neeledidnotthinkthatgladysthinkthatgladyshecyanidehadnotbeenintheteapot”butadehergooffsuddenlylikethisitherdayout,yousay””no,sir,torro”
”doescru”
scrusbelligerencesuddenlyrevivedhervoicerosehfully”dontyougofasteninganythingonrpercivalhielf”perlondontobegreetedbytheastoundingnehissendtragedy”ip,”saidneeleldly”ijusthingaboutgladyssplans””shehadherbestnylonson,”saidsedidntyndesback”esback
afaintuneasinesspossessedneeletoshakeitoffhealavishapartntallrosebroirrorlinedbathrooreaintohersittingrootherooirestylehadhadhiscloseattentionontheprecedingdayallelegantdesknoallpieud
neeleudp
helookedroundthereentofearth
iv
inspethatbelongedtogladysrtinitphadeinhalfanhouragobutthereevergladysstraining
