course, in love with her, and her trouble may merely be that the course of true love does not run quite smooth. Are there financial obstacles to their marriage?”
Rachel said, “I don’t know. Richard won’t take anything from me. I helped him with his training, and he has paid me back. I don’t know whether he is in a position to marry or not. Caroline ought to have about three hundred a year, but I think she must have had losses. She’s been doing without things, and I know she sold a ring. I haven’t liked to say anything—she’s sensitive.”
Miss Silver’s needles clicked again.
“Mr. Wadlow has a worried manner. Small things appear important to him. This kind of character is confusing even to the trained observer. Trifles are so much in evidence that one is tempted to assume that there is nothing behind them. This may be the case—or not. I reserve judgment about Mr. Wadlow.”
“And Cosmo?”
“Mr. Frith is a very charming person. I was particularly struck with the fact that he took the trouble to be charming to me.”
Rachel’s heart warmed to Cosmo, all the more because she had felt a little nervous. He didn’t always take the trouble to make himself agreeable to a dull visitor. She said,
“I’m glad you like Cosmo. He’s a bit of a spoilt child, but he has the kindest heart in the world.”
Miss Silver smiled brightly.
“Kind hearts are indeed more than coronets, as dear Lord Tennyson says.”
Rachel felt a wild desire to finish the quotation, but she restrained herself.
“How did you get on with Ella Comperton?” she asked.
“She seems very much interested in slum clearance.”
Rachel laughed.
“She is always very much interested in something. It is never the same thing for very long. All very worthy objects, but she rather does them to death.”
Miss Silver looked up shrewdly.
“She collects for them?”
“Most zealously. Did she collect from you?”
“A mere half-crown. And from you?”
Rachel laughed again.
“I’m afraid I don’t get off with half-a-crown.”
Miss Silver laid down her knitting and produced notebook and pencil from the black satin bag.
“Forgive me, Miss Treherne, but I should be glad to have the name of any society or charitable institution to which you have contributed through Miss Comperton during the past year, together with the amount contributed.”
Rachel bit her lip.
“Miss Silver, I hardly think—”
Miss Silver’s eyes brightened.
“An attempt has been made on your life. I suspect no one—yet. But until I suspect someone it is my business to check up on everyone. If they are innocent, no harm is done. If one of them is guilty—are you a religious woman, Miss Treherne?”
Rachel said, “Yes.”
Miss Silver nodded approvingly.
“Then you will agree with me that the best thing that can happen to anyone who is doing wrong is to be found out. If he is not found out he will do more wrong and earn a heavier punishment. And now—those particulars if you please.”
Rachel gave them.
Chapter Eighteen
When Miss Silver reached her own room she sat down on a small upright chair and plunged into thought for the space of about ten minutes. Then she glanced at her own little clock, a loudly ticking contraption of Swiss origin in a wooden case freely decorated with carved edelweiss, which she had placed in the exact center of the mantelpiece, and observing that it was still not quite ten o’clock, rose up and rang the bell.
She was just thinking of ringing it again, when a plump, rosy-faced girl arrived in a hurry.
“Now I wonder,” said Miss Silver, “whether I might speak to Louisa. That is her name, is it not—Miss Treherne’s maid?”
“Oh, yes, miss. But if there’s anything I can do—”
“Not at the moment, thank you. Was it you who unpacked for me?… And your name?… Ivy? Thank you very much, Ivy. Now if you will just ask Louisa to look in for a few moments on her way upstairs. I suppose her room is somewhere
Rachel said, “I don’t know. Richard won’t take anything from me. I helped him with his training, and he has paid me back. I don’t know whether he is in a position to marry or not. Caroline ought to have about three hundred a year, but I think she must have had losses. She’s been doing without things, and I know she sold a ring. I haven’t liked to say anything—she’s sensitive.”
Miss Silver’s needles clicked again.
“Mr. Wadlow has a worried manner. Small things appear important to him. This kind of character is confusing even to the trained observer. Trifles are so much in evidence that one is tempted to assume that there is nothing behind them. This may be the case—or not. I reserve judgment about Mr. Wadlow.”
“And Cosmo?”
“Mr. Frith is a very charming person. I was particularly struck with the fact that he took the trouble to be charming to me.”
Rachel’s heart warmed to Cosmo, all the more because she had felt a little nervous. He didn’t always take the trouble to make himself agreeable to a dull visitor. She said,
“I’m glad you like Cosmo. He’s a bit of a spoilt child, but he has the kindest heart in the world.”
Miss Silver smiled brightly.
“Kind hearts are indeed more than coronets, as dear Lord Tennyson says.”
Rachel felt a wild desire to finish the quotation, but she restrained herself.
“How did you get on with Ella Comperton?” she asked.
“She seems very much interested in slum clearance.”
Rachel laughed.
“She is always very much interested in something. It is never the same thing for very long. All very worthy objects, but she rather does them to death.”
Miss Silver looked up shrewdly.
“She collects for them?”
“Most zealously. Did she collect from you?”
“A mere half-crown. And from you?”
Rachel laughed again.
“I’m afraid I don’t get off with half-a-crown.”
Miss Silver laid down her knitting and produced notebook and pencil from the black satin bag.
“Forgive me, Miss Treherne, but I should be glad to have the name of any society or charitable institution to which you have contributed through Miss Comperton during the past year, together with the amount contributed.”
Rachel bit her lip.
“Miss Silver, I hardly think—”
Miss Silver’s eyes brightened.
“An attempt has been made on your life. I suspect no one—yet. But until I suspect someone it is my business to check up on everyone. If they are innocent, no harm is done. If one of them is guilty—are you a religious woman, Miss Treherne?”
Rachel said, “Yes.”
Miss Silver nodded approvingly.
“Then you will agree with me that the best thing that can happen to anyone who is doing wrong is to be found out. If he is not found out he will do more wrong and earn a heavier punishment. And now—those particulars if you please.”
Rachel gave them.
Chapter Eighteen
When Miss Silver reached her own room she sat down on a small upright chair and plunged into thought for the space of about ten minutes. Then she glanced at her own little clock, a loudly ticking contraption of Swiss origin in a wooden case freely decorated with carved edelweiss, which she had placed in the exact center of the mantelpiece, and observing that it was still not quite ten o’clock, rose up and rang the bell.
She was just thinking of ringing it again, when a plump, rosy-faced girl arrived in a hurry.
“Now I wonder,” said Miss Silver, “whether I might speak to Louisa. That is her name, is it not—Miss Treherne’s maid?”
“Oh, yes, miss. But if there’s anything I can do—”
“Not at the moment, thank you. Was it you who unpacked for me?… And your name?… Ivy? Thank you very much, Ivy. Now if you will just ask Louisa to look in for a few moments on her way upstairs. I suppose her room is somewhere
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