Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

sighed.
    â€œThe usual things. That there was plenty of time! That she didn’t intend to die just yet! That she hadn’t made up her mind definitely, exactly how she wished to dispose of her money!”
    Elinor said:
    â€œBut surely, after her first stroke—?”
    Mr. Seddon shook his head.
    â€œOh, no, it was worse then. She wouldn’t hear the subject mentioned!”
    Roddy said:
    â€œSurely that’s very odd?”
    Mr. Seddon said again:
    â€œOh, no. Naturally, her illness made her much more nervous.”
    Elinor said in a puzzled voice:
    â€œBut she wanted to die….”
    Polishing his eyeglasses, Mr. Seddon said:
    â€œAh, my dear Miss Elinor, the human mind is a very curious piece of mechanism. Mrs. Welman may have thought she wanted to die; but side by side with that feeling there ran the hope that shewould recover absolutely. And because of that hope, I think she felt that to make a will would be unlucky. It isn’t so much that she didn’t mean to make one, as that she was eternally putting it off.”
    â€œ You know,” went on Mr. Seddon, suddenly addressing Roddy in an almost personal manner, “how one puts off and avoids a thing that is distasteful—that you don’t want to face?”
    Roddy flushed. He muttered:
    â€œYes, I—I—yes, of course. I know what you mean.”
    â€œExactly,” said Mr. Seddon. “Mrs. Welman always meant to make a will, but tomorrow was always a better day to make it than today! She kept telling herself that there was plenty of time.”
    Elinor said slowly:
    â€œSo that’s why she was so upset last night—and in such a panic that you should be sent for….”
    Mr. Seddon replied:
    â€œUndoubtedly!”
    Roddy said in a bewildered voice:
    â€œBut what happens now?”
    â€œTo Mrs. Welman’s estate?” The lawyer coughed. “Since Mrs. Welman died intestate, all her property goes to her next of kin—that is, to Miss Elinor Carlisle.”
    Elinor said slowly.
    â€œAll to me? ”
    â€œThe Crown takes a certain percentage,” Mr. Seddon explained.
    He went into details.
    He ended:
    â€œThere are no settlements or trusts. Mrs. Welman’s money was hers absolutely to do with as she chose. It passes, therefore, straightto Miss Carlisle. Er—the death duties, I am afraid, will be somewhat heavy, but even after their payment, the fortune will still be a considerable one, and it is very well invested in sound gilt-edged securities.”
    Elinor said:
    â€œBut Roderick—”
    Mr. Seddon said with a little apologetic cough:
    â€œMr. Welman is only Mrs. Welman’s husband’s nephew. There is no blood relationship.”
    â€œQuite,” said Roddy.
    Elinor said slowly:
    â€œOf course, it doesn’t much matter which of us gets it, as we’re going to be married.”
    But she did not look at Roddy.
    It was Mr. Seddon’s turn to say, “Quite!”
    He said it rather quickly.
    V
    â€œBut it doesn’t matter, does it?” Elinor said.
    She spoke almost pleadingly.
    Mr. Seddon had departed.
    Roddy’s face twitched nervously.
    He said:
    â€œYou ought to have it. It’s quite right you should. For heaven’s sake, Elinor, don’t get it into your head that I grudge it to you. I don’t want the damned money!”
    Elinor said, her voice slightly unsteady:
    â€œWe did agree, Roddy, in London that it wouldn’t matter which of us it was, as—as we were going to be married…?”
    He did not answer. She persisted:
    â€œDon’t you remember saying that, Roddy?”
    He said:
    â€œYes.”
    He looked down at his feet. His face was white and sullen, there was pain in the taut lines of his sensitive mouth.
    Elinor said with a sudden gallant lift of the head:
    â€œIt doesn’t matter— if we’re going to be married… But are we, Roddy? ”
    He said:
    â€œAre