"You wanted to see me, Miss Elinor?" she said. Elinor looked up. "Oh, yes, Mary. Come here and sit down, will you?" Mary came and sat in the chair Elinor indicated. It was turned a little toward the window, and the light from it fell on her face, showing the dazzling purity of the skin and bringing out the pale gold of the girl's hair. Elinor held one hand shielding her face a little. Between the fingers she could watch the other girl's face. She thought, Is it possible to hate anyone so much and not show it?

Aloud she said in a pleasant, business-like voice, "I think you know, Mary, that my aunt always took a great interest in you and would have been concerned about your future."

Mary murmured in her soft voice, "Mrs. Welman was very good to me always."

Elinor went on, her voice cold and detached: "My aunt, if she had had time to make a will, would have wished, I know, to leave several legacies. Since she died without making a will, the responsibility of carrying out her wishes rests on me. I have consulted with Mr. Seddon, and by his advice we have drawn up a schedule of sums for the servants according to their length of service, etc."

She paused. "You, of course, don't come quite into that class." She half hoped, perhaps, that those words might hold a sting, but the face she was looking at showed no change. Mary accepted the words at their face value and listened to what more was to come.

Elinor said, "Though it was difficult for my aunt to speak coherently, she was able to make her meaning understood that last evening. She definitely wanted to make some provision for your future." 60

Mary said quietly, "That was very good of her." Elinor said brusquely, "As soon as probate is granted, I am arranging that two thousand pounds should be made over to you - that sum to be yours to do with absolutely as you please."

Mary's color rose. "Two thousand pounds? Oh, Miss Elinor, that is good of you! I don't know what to say."

Elinor said sharply, "It isn't particularly good of me, and please don't say anything."

Mary flushed. "You don't know what a difference it will make to me," she murmured.

Elinor said, "I'm glad."

She hesitated. She looked away from Mary to the other side of the room. She said with a slight effort, "I wonder - have you any plans?" Mary said quickly, "Oh, yes. I shall train for something. Massage, perhaps. That's what Nurse Hopkins advises."

Elinor said, "That sounds a very good idea. I will try and arrange with Mr. Seddon that some money shall be advanced to you as soon as possible - at once, if that is feasible."

"You're very, very good, Miss Elinor," said Mary gratefully. Elinor said curtly, "It was Aunt Laura's wish." She hesitated, then said,

"Well, that's all, I think."