Roddy said, "Of course she - shut me up at once! She was shocked. Because of Aunt Laura and–of you–"

Elinor drew the diamond ring off her finger. She said, "You'd better take it back, Roddy."

Taking it, he murmured without looking at her, "Elinor, you've no idea what a beast I feel."

Elinor said in her calm voice, "Do you think she'll marry you?" 55

He shook his head. "I've no idea. Not - not for a long time. I don't think she cares for me now; but she might come to care."

Elinor said, "I think you're right. You must give her time. Not see her for a bit, and then - start afresh."

"Darling Elinor! You're the best friend anyone ever had." He took her hand suddenly and kissed it. "You know, Elinor, I do love you

- just as much as ever! Sometimes Mary seems just like a dream. I might wake up from it - and find she wasn't there."

Elinor said, "If Mary wasn't there -"

Roddy said with sudden feeling, "Sometimes I wish she wasn't.... You and I, Elinor, belong. We do belong, don't we?"

Slowly she bent her head. She said, "Oh, yes - we belong." She thought, If Mary wasn't there...

56

Chapter 5

Nurse Hopkins said with emotion, "It was a beautiful funeral!" Nurse O'Brien responded, "It was, indeed. And the flowers! Did you ever see such beautiful flowers? A harp of white lilies there was, and a cross of yellow roses. Beautiful!"

Nurse Hopkins sighed and helped herself to buttered teacake. The two nurses were sitting in the Blue Tit Café.

Nurse Hopkins went on: "Miss Carlisle is a generous girl. She gave me a nice present, though she'd no call to do so."

"She's a fine, generous girl," agreed Nurse O'Brien warmly. "I do detest stinginess."

Nurse Hopkins said, "Well, it's a grand fortune she's inherited." Nurse O'Brien said, "I wonder -" and stopped.

Nurse Hopkins said, "Yes?" encouragingly.

"It was strange the way the old lady made no will."

"It was wicked," Nurse Hopkins said sharply. "People ought to be forced to make wills! It only leads to unpleasantness when they don't."

"I'm wondering," said Nurse O'Brien, "if she had made a will, how she'd have left her money?"

Nurse Hopkins said firmly, "I know one thing."

"What's that?"

57

"She'd have left a sum of money to Mary - Mary Gerrard."

"Yes indeed, and that's true," agreed the other. She added excitedly,

"Wasn't I after telling you that night of the state she was in, poor dear, and the doctor doing his best to calm her down. Miss Elinor was there holding her auntie's hand and swearing by God Almighty," said Nurse O'Brien, her Irish imagination suddenly running away with her, "that the lawyer should be sent for and everything done accordingly. ‘Mary. Mary'