JК
Five Little Pigs :: Christie Agatha
Страница: 103 из 147In looks I can’t hold a candle to this Elsa child, and I know it.’
I said: ‘But you know, Caroline, youknow -that Amyas is really devoted to you?’
She said to that: ‘Does one ever know with men?’ And then she laughed a little ruefully and said: ‘I’m a very primitive woman, Merry. I’d like to take a hatchet to that girl.’
I told her that the child probably didn’t understand in the least what she was doing. She had a great admiration and hero-worship for Amyas, and she probably didn’t realize at all that Amyas was falling in love with her.
Caroline just said to me:
‘Dear Merry!’ and began to talk about the garden. I hoped that she was not going to worry any more about the matter.
Shortly afterwards, Elsa went back to London. Amyas was away too for several weeks. I had really forgotten all about the business. And then I heard that Elsa was back again at Alderbury in order that Amyas might finish the picture.
I was a little disturbed by the news. But Caroline, when I saw her, was not in a communicative mood. She seemed quite her usual self-not worried or upset in any way. I imagined that everything was all right.
That’s why it was such a shock to me to learn how far the thing had gone.
I have told you of my conversations with Crale and with Elsa. I had no opportunity of talking to Caroline. We were only able to exchange those few words about which I have already told you.
I can see her face now, the wide dark eyes and the restrained emotion. I can still hear her voice as she said:
‘Everything’s finished…’
I can’t describe to you the infinite desolation she conveyed in those words. They were a literal statement of truth. With Amyas’s defection, everything was finished for her. That, I am convinced, was why she took the conune. It was a way out. A way suggested to her by my stupid dissertation on the drug. And the passage I read from the Ph?do gives a gracious picture of death.
Here is my present belief. She took the coniine, resolved to end her own life when Amyas left her. He may have seen her take it-or he may have discovered that she had it later.
That discovery acted upon him with terrific force. He was horrified at what his actions had led her to contemplate. But notwithstanding his horror and remorse, he still felt himself incapable of giving up Elsa. I can understand that. Any one who had fallen in love with her would find it almost impossible to tear himself away.
Hecould not envisage life without Elsa. He realized that Caroline could not live withouthim.
I said: ‘But you know, Caroline, youknow -that Amyas is really devoted to you?’
She said to that: ‘Does one ever know with men?’ And then she laughed a little ruefully and said: ‘I’m a very primitive woman, Merry. I’d like to take a hatchet to that girl.’
I told her that the child probably didn’t understand in the least what she was doing. She had a great admiration and hero-worship for Amyas, and she probably didn’t realize at all that Amyas was falling in love with her.
Caroline just said to me:
‘Dear Merry!’ and began to talk about the garden. I hoped that she was not going to worry any more about the matter.
Shortly afterwards, Elsa went back to London. Amyas was away too for several weeks. I had really forgotten all about the business. And then I heard that Elsa was back again at Alderbury in order that Amyas might finish the picture.
I was a little disturbed by the news. But Caroline, when I saw her, was not in a communicative mood. She seemed quite her usual self-not worried or upset in any way. I imagined that everything was all right.
That’s why it was such a shock to me to learn how far the thing had gone.
I have told you of my conversations with Crale and with Elsa. I had no opportunity of talking to Caroline. We were only able to exchange those few words about which I have already told you.
I can see her face now, the wide dark eyes and the restrained emotion. I can still hear her voice as she said:
‘Everything’s finished…’
I can’t describe to you the infinite desolation she conveyed in those words. They were a literal statement of truth. With Amyas’s defection, everything was finished for her. That, I am convinced, was why she took the conune. It was a way out. A way suggested to her by my stupid dissertation on the drug. And the passage I read from the Ph?do gives a gracious picture of death.
Here is my present belief. She took the coniine, resolved to end her own life when Amyas left her. He may have seen her take it-or he may have discovered that she had it later.
That discovery acted upon him with terrific force. He was horrified at what his actions had led her to contemplate. But notwithstanding his horror and remorse, he still felt himself incapable of giving up Elsa. I can understand that. Any one who had fallen in love with her would find it almost impossible to tear himself away.
Hecould not envisage life without Elsa. He realized that Caroline could not live withouthim.