Adders on the Heath by Gladys Mitchell Page A

the bright side. So fatiguing. Now you just tell me the worst, and I'll be as lugubrious as you like. Rely on me not to point out the silver lining.'
    'I say, that's just what I want! How did you know?'
    'Oh, Dame B. isn't the only psychologist among those present,' said Laura, waving a shapely hand. 'Now, then, fire away. Why are you all of a tremble about these deaths? You didn't bring them about...or did you? Speak slowly, distinctly and to the point. Did the vendetta begin at the cross-country rally, or do we seek to re-enter the womb of Time?'
    Richardson did not answer until they had covered another couple of hundred yards. Then he turned his head and observed that Dame Beatrice and her great-nephew had halted to watch a sea-going cruiser which was making its way down-stream. He said,
    'Well, it's a silly sort of story really.'
    'So is Alice in Wonderland, if you care to think about it in that sort of way.'
    'Well,' said Richardson, relieved and encouraged by this surprising analogy, 'I suppose it began when I, as secretary of our lot, accepted their lot's challenge.'
    'Did they want preferential treatment in some way?'
    'No, no, far from it. They invited us over to their ground-we haven't a ground of our own, as, no doubt, you know-to see them in action and fix up the final details of the cross-country run.'
    To see them in action? Was that necessary?'
    'I shouldn't have thought so. Anyway, our president, our treasurer and a chap named Evans came with me. Evans is our best long-distance man-a marathon runner, actually-and we stayed to tea. They have women members, so the tea was a good one. The girls' mums turned up and put on no end of a spread. There was only one jarring note.'
    'A-ha! So here we come!'
    'Well, it's where we went, actually. When tea was over there was a concerted move to the local. I had a bit of time to spare before I caught my train. I hadn't brought the car because it was in dry dock having the brakes adjusted and being given a general "once-over" at the garage, so I saw the other three off in Evans' Morris and strolled along to find a pub. I didn't know which one was favoured by the local lads and it was quite by chance that I happened on one which was enjoying the custom of Colnbrook and a couple of girls. He had dodged the column, it seemed, to sport with Amaryllis and there was a lot of giggling and a spot of slap and tickle going on under the benevolent eye of the barman. As it was not much past six, the bar was empty except for the above-mentioned and a couple of old fellows smoking pipes and getting outside a pint each in a far corner, so in I barged.
    'Colnbrook spotted me as soon as I went in and bellowed to me to join the party and asked me what I'd have. I didn't want to join him and his doxies, but one has to do the civil thing, especially in pubs, where people are apt to take offence rather easily, so I went over. Colnbrook bought me a drink, and I bought him and the girls one, and then I said I had to be going. To my horror, one of the females elected to accompany me to the station and see me off.
    'When we got outside, she confided to me that she liked me and that, anyhow, the other two wouldn't mind being left alone for a bit. When we got to the station, the wretched wench insisted upon coming on to the platform and she led me into the waiting-room. It was empty and she immediately indicated that she thought it an ideal spot for a bit of necking. I was just fobbing her off-physically, I may add-she was their woman shot-putt champion-when who should arrive but Colnbrook and his girl friend. They stated their opinion that I was endeavouring to compromise this ghastly female weight-lifter, and Colnbrook, his silly map one enormous grin, indicated that he should inform the other members of my club. They'd have laughed their heads off, but if my fiancée had got to know-'
    Tell Mrs. Croc, all about it,' said Laura. 'Personally, your girl would be a perfect little chump, I think, to