Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie Page A

we what?”
    â€œAre we going to marry each other?”
    â€œI understood that was the idea.”
    His tone was indifferent, with a slight edge to it. He went on:
    â€œOf course, Elinor, if you’ve other ideas now….”
    Elinor cried out:
    â€œOh, Roddy, can’t you be honest? ”
    He winced.
    Then he said in a low, bewildered voice:
    â€œI don’t know what’s happened to me….”
    Elinor said in a stifled voice:
    â€œI do….”
    He said quickly:
    â€œPerhaps it’s true, that. I don’t after all, quite like the idea of living on my wife’s money….”
    Elinor, her face white, said:
    â€œIt’s not that… It’s something else…” She paused, then she said, “It’s—Mary, isn’t it?”
    Roddy murmured unhappily:
    â€œI suppose so. How did you know?”
    Elinor said, her mouth twisting sideways in a crooked smile:
    â€œIt wasn’t difficult… Every time you look at her—it’s there in your face for anyone to read….”
    Suddenly his composure broke.
    â€œOh, Elinor—I don’t know what’s the matter! I think I’m going mad! It happened when I saw her—that first day—in the wood…just her face—it’s—it’s turned everything upside down. You can’t understand that….”
    Elinor said:
    â€œYes, I can. Go on.”
    Roddy said helplessly:
    â€œI didn’t want to fall in love with her… I was quite happy with you. Oh, Elinor, what a cad I am, talking like this to you….”
    Elinor said:
    â€œNonsense. Go on. Tell me….”
    He said brokenly:
    â€œYou’re wonderful… Talking to you helps frightfully. I’m so terribly fond of you, Elinor! You must believe that. This other thing is like an enchantment! It’s upset everything: my conception of life—and my enjoyment of things—and—all the decent ordered reasonable things….”
    Elinor said gently:
    â€œLove—isn’t very reasonable….”
    Roddy said miserably:
    â€œNo….”
    Elinor said, and her voice trembled a little:
    â€œHave you said anything to her?”
    Roddy said:
    â€œThis morning—like a fool—I lost my head—”
    Elinor said:
    â€œYes?”
    Roddy said:
    â€œOf course she—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:
    â€œYou’d better take it back, Roddy.”
    Taking it, he murmured without looking at her:
    â€œElinor, you’ve no idea what a beast I feel.”
    Elinor said in her calm voice:
    â€œDo you think she’ll marry you?”
    He shook his head.
    â€œI’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:
    â€œI think you’re right. You must give her time. Not see her for a bit, and then—start afresh.”
    â€œDarling 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:
    â€œIf Mary wasn’t there….”
    Roddy said with sudden feeling:
    â€œSometimes I wish she wasn’t… You and I, Elinor, belong. We do belong, don’t we?”
    Slowly she bent her head.
    She said:
    â€œOh, yes—we belong.”
    She thought:
    â€œIf Mary wasn’t there….”

Five
    N urse Hopkins said with emotion:
    â€œIt was a beautiful funeral!”
    Nurse O’Brien responded:
    â€œIt 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