Sad Cypress

‘Aunt Laura is worried about—about certain business matters. I managed to pacify her and told her Mr Seddon would certainly come down tomorrow. We must telephone him first thing.’

Roddy asked:

‘Does she want to make a new will?’

Elinor answered:

‘She didn’t say so.’

‘What did she—?’

He stopped in the middle of the question.

Mary Gerrard was running down the stairs. She crossed the hall and disappeared through the door to the kitchen quarters.

Elinor said in a harsh voice:

‘Yes? What is it you wanted to ask?’

Roddy said vaguely:

‘I—what? I’ve forgotten what it was.’

He was staring at the door through which Mary Gerrard had gone.

Elinor’s hands closed. She could feel her long, pointed nails biting into the flesh of her palms.

She thought:

‘I can’t bear it—I can’t bear it…it’s not imagination…it’s true… Roddy—Roddy I can’t lose you…’

And she thought:

‘What did that man—the doctor—what did he see in my face upstairs? He saw something… Oh, God, how awful life is—to feel as I feel now. Say something, fool. Pull yourself together!’

Aloud she said, in her calm voice:

‘About meals, Roddy. I’m not very hungry. I’ll sit with Aunt Laura and the nurses can both come down.’

Roddy said in alarm:

‘And have dinner with me?’

Elinor said coldly:

‘They won’t bite you!’

‘But what about you? You must have something. Why don’t we dine first, and let them come down afterwards?’

Elinor said:

‘No, the other way’s better.’ She added wildly, ‘They’re so touchy, you know.’

She thought:

‘I can’t sit through a meal with him—alone—talking—behaving as usual…’

She said impatiently:

‘Oh, do let me arrange things my own way!’

CHAPTER 4 (#u09d51e75-5743-5601-bf8f-744b44868f24)

It was no mere housemaid who wakened Elinor the following morning. It was Mrs Bishop in person, rustling in her old-fashioned black, and weeping unashamedly.

‘Oh, Miss Elinor, she’s gone…’

‘What?’

Elinor sat up in bed.

‘Your dear aunt. Mrs Welman. My dear mistress. Passed away in her sleep.’

‘Aunt Laura? Dead?’

Elinor stared. She seemed unable to take it in.

Mrs Bishop was weeping now with more abandon.

‘To think of it,’ she sobbed. ‘After all these years! Eighteen years I’ve been here. But indeed it doesn’t seem like it…’

Elinor said slowly:

‘So Aunt Laura died in her sleep—quite peacefully… What a blessing for her!’

Mrs Bishop wept.

‘So sudden. The doctor saying he’d call again this morning and everything just as usual.’

Elinor said rather sharply:

‘It wasn’t exactly sudden. After all, she’s been ill for some time. I’m just so thankful she’s been spared more suffering.’

Mrs Bishop said tearfully that there was indeed that to be thankful for. She added:

‘Who’ll tell Mr Roderick?’

Elinor said: