Free The Fire Within by Patricia Wentworth Page A

married people do like to have their evenings, but as I said to Edward,
'Elizabeth would much rather be in her own little room, with a book,
than sitting with us.' And you would, would n't you?”
    “Oh, yes,” said Elizabeth laughing.
    The spectacle of Mary being tactful always made her laugh.
    “Of course when any one comes in the evening—that 's different. Of
course you 'll join us then. But you 'd rather be here as a rule, would
n't you?”
    “Oh, you know I love my little room. It was nice of you to have tea
here, Molly,” said Elizabeth.
    “Yes, I thought you 'd like it. And then I wanted the rest of the
house to be a surprise to you. When we 've had tea I want to show you
everything. Of course your rooms have n't been touched, you said you 'd
rather they were n't; but everything else has been done up, and I
really think it 's very nice. I 've been quite excited over it.”
    “Give me a little more tea, Molly,” said Elizabeth.
    As she leaned forward with her cup in her hand, she asked casually:
“Have you seen much of David lately?”
    “Oh, yes,” said Mary, “he 's here very often.” She pursed her lips a
little. “I think David is a very curious person, Liz. I don't
understand him at all. I think he is very difficult to understand.”
    “Is he, Molly?”
    Elizabeth looked at her sister with something between anxiety and
amusement.
    “Yes, very. He 's quite changed, it seems to me. I could understand
his being upset just after Mr. Mottisfont's death. We were all upset
then. I am sure I never felt so dreadful in my life. It made me quite
ill. But afterwards,” Mary's voice dropped to a lower tone, “afterwards
when the letter had come, and everything was cleared up—well, you 'd
have thought he would have been all right again, would n't you? And
instead, he has just gone on getting more and more unlike himself. You
know, he was so odd when Edward went to see him that, really,”—Mary
hesitated—“Edward thought—well, he wondered whether David had been
drinking.”
    “Nonsense, Molly!”
    “Oh, it 's not only Edward—everybody has noticed how changed he is.
Have you got anything to eat, Liz? Have some of the iced cake; it 's
from a recipe of Miss Dobell's and it 's quite nice. What was I saying?
Oh, about David—well, it 's true, Liz—Mrs. Havergill told Markham;
now, Liz, what 's the sense of your looking at me like that? Of
course I should n't dream of talking to an ordinary servant,
but considering Markham has known us since we were about two—Markham
takes an interest, a real interest, and when Mrs. Havergill told her
that she was afraid David was taking a great deal more than was good
for him, and she wished his friends could stop it, why, Markham
naturally told me. She felt it her duty. I expect she thought I might
have an influence—as I hope I have. That 's why I encourage
David to come here. I think it 's so good for him. I think it makes
such a difference to young men if they have a nice home to come to, and
it 's very good for them to see married people fond of each other, and
happy together, like Edward and I are. Don't you think so?”
    “I don't know, Molly,” said Elizabeth. “Are people talking about
David?”
    “Yes, they are. Of course I have n't said a word, but people are
noticing how different he is. I don't see how they can help it, and
yesterday when I was having tea with Mrs. Codrington, Miss Dobell began
to hint all sorts of things, and there was quite a scene. You know how
devoted Mrs. Codrington is! She really quite frightened poor little
Miss Hester. I can tell you, I was glad that I had n't said anything.
Mrs. Codrington always frightens me. She looks so large, and she speaks
so loud. I was quite glad to get away.”
    “I like Mrs. Codrington,” said Elizabeth.
    “Oh, well, so do I. But I like her better when she 's not angry. Oh,
by the way, Liz, talking of David, do you know that I met Katie
Ellerton