Celia's House by D. E. Stevenson Page A

knew, by the sounds of movement in the room, that Becky—or somebody—had come in. She hoped it was Becky, for even Humphrey would be less welcome at the moment.
    â€œIs that you, Becky?” she asked.
    â€œYes, I’ve brought you a wee cup of tea,” Becky replied in a low voice. “D’you think you could take a wee cup of tea, Mrs. Dunne?”
    Alice thought she could. She raised herself a bit and Becky slipped another pillow behind her head and settled the tray. “There,” Becky said cheerfully. “There we are. You’re looking a wee bit better already. A cup of tea will be just the thing. I’ll pour it out for you, shall I?”
    â€œYou might lock the door, Becky,” said Alice, looking toward it apprehensively.
    â€œLock the door?”
    â€œI’ve just thought…perhaps she might come up…”
    â€œThey’ve gone,” said Becky, nodding significantly.
    â€œGone away!”
    â€œYes, just this minute. I was watching from the stair window. They couldn’t get the motorcar to start and then suddenly it started and away they went. I wouldn’t trust myself to one of those machines for a good deal.”
    â€œOh dear, it was awful,” Alice said with a groan.
    â€œDon’t think about it,” advised Becky. “Drink up your tea and don’t think about it anymore. It’s over now. We won’t see them again in a hurry.”
    â€œYou don’t think they’ll come back?”
    â€œNo, I don’t.”
    â€œHe said he was going to see his lawyer. He said he would bring his lawyer here—”
    â€œHis lawyer couldn’t do a thing. What could he do? You may be sure Mr. Wanlock has made everything watertight. That’s what Miss Dunne used to say, ‘I’ve told him to make it watertight,’ she said. No, no, there’s little need to worry. Mr. Maurice said a good deal, but it was just talk.”
    â€œ Talk ! ” exclaimed Alice, moving her head on the pillow. It seemed a colorless word to describe the terrific row that had taken place. She shuddered as she thought of it. The scene rose before her eyes and made her feel quite sick. Loud voices and angry words were bad enough at any time and in any place, but here and now, in the cloistered peace of Dunnian library with the mistress of Dunnian only just that moment in her grave, they had seemed like desecration. Alice had known that Maurice and Nina would be angry and disappointed, but she had never imagined that they would behave “like that.” It was like a scene in the nursery; only of course a thousand times worse, for these were not children. Oddly enough, it was Mr. Wanlock who had come in for most of the abuse.
    â€œYou influenced her,” Maurice had roared. “She was in her dotage and you persuaded her to alter her will.”
    Mr. Wanlock might have replied that Miss Dunne was not a person who could be influenced, but he had said nothing. He sat quite still in his chair with his mouth buttoned up.
    â€œYou knew all the time—all of you,” Nina had stormed. “You were laughing at us, I suppose, thinking you had made fools of us, but it isn’t settled yet. We’ll see who are the fools. We’ll see—”
    â€œReally, Nina!” Mrs. Lacey had exclaimed, her soft voice breaking in upon Nina’s ravings. “Really, Nina, one would think…we all know this is a disappointment to you, but surely there’s no need to shout like that. The servants, Nina…”
    But Nina was past caring what the servants thought. “You knew too,” she declared, turning upon Cousin Henrietta like a fury. “You took good care that your bequest wasn’t cut out of the new will…”
    â€œI knew nothing,” Cousin Henrietta replied with spirit. “I shan’t say I’m not glad of the money, because it will make a lot of difference,