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Five Little Pigs :: Christie Agatha
Страница: 73 из 147Mrs Crale, for instance, was what is termed an excellent mother, always careful of Carla’s welfare, of her health-playing with her at the right times and always kind and gay. But for all that, Mrs Crale was really completely wrapped up in her husband. She existed, one might say, only in him and for him.’ Miss Williams paused a minute and then said quietly: ‘That, I think, is the justification for what she eventually did.’
Hercule Poirot said:
‘You mean that they were more like lovers than like husband and wife?’
Miss Williams, with a slight frown of distaste for foreign phraseology, said:
‘You could certainly put it that way.’
‘He was devoted to her as she was to him?’
‘They were a devoted couple. But he, of course, was a man.’
Miss Williams contrived to put into that last word a wholly Victorian significance.
‘Men-’ said Miss Williams, and stopped.
As a rich property owner says ‘Bolsheviks’-as an earnest Communist says ‘Capitalists!’-as a good housewife says ‘Blackbeetles’-so did Miss Williams say ‘Men!’
From her spinster’s, governess’s life, there rose up a blast of fierce feminism. Nobody hearing her speak could doubt that to Miss Williams Men were the Enemy!
Poirot said: ‘You hold no brief for men?’
She answered drily:
‘Men have the best of this world. I hope that it will not always be so.’
Hercule Poirot eyed her speculatively. He could quite easily visualize Miss Williams methodically and efficiently padlocking herself to a railing, and later hunger-striking with resolute endurance. Leaving the general for the particular, he said:
‘You did not like Amyas Crale?’
‘I certainly did not like Mr Crale. Nor did I approve of him. If I were his wife I should have left him. There are things that no woman should put up with.’
‘But Mrs Crale did put up with them?’
‘Yes.’
‘You thought she was wrong?’
‘Yes, I do. A woman should have a certain respect for herself and not submit to humiliation.’
‘Did you ever say anything of that kind to Mrs Crale?’
‘Certainly not. It was not my place to do so. I was engaged to educate Angela, not to offer unasked advice to Mrs Crale. To do so would have been most impertinent.’
‘You liked Mrs Crale?’
‘I was very fond of Mrs Crale.’ The efficient voice softened, held warmth and feeling. ‘Very fond of her and very sorry for her.’
‘And your pupil-Angela Warren?’
‘She was a most interesting girl-one of the most interesting pupils I have had.
Hercule Poirot said:
‘You mean that they were more like lovers than like husband and wife?’
Miss Williams, with a slight frown of distaste for foreign phraseology, said:
‘You could certainly put it that way.’
‘He was devoted to her as she was to him?’
‘They were a devoted couple. But he, of course, was a man.’
Miss Williams contrived to put into that last word a wholly Victorian significance.
‘Men-’ said Miss Williams, and stopped.
As a rich property owner says ‘Bolsheviks’-as an earnest Communist says ‘Capitalists!’-as a good housewife says ‘Blackbeetles’-so did Miss Williams say ‘Men!’
From her spinster’s, governess’s life, there rose up a blast of fierce feminism. Nobody hearing her speak could doubt that to Miss Williams Men were the Enemy!
Poirot said: ‘You hold no brief for men?’
She answered drily:
‘Men have the best of this world. I hope that it will not always be so.’
Hercule Poirot eyed her speculatively. He could quite easily visualize Miss Williams methodically and efficiently padlocking herself to a railing, and later hunger-striking with resolute endurance. Leaving the general for the particular, he said:
‘You did not like Amyas Crale?’
‘I certainly did not like Mr Crale. Nor did I approve of him. If I were his wife I should have left him. There are things that no woman should put up with.’
‘But Mrs Crale did put up with them?’
‘Yes.’
‘You thought she was wrong?’
‘Yes, I do. A woman should have a certain respect for herself and not submit to humiliation.’
‘Did you ever say anything of that kind to Mrs Crale?’
‘Certainly not. It was not my place to do so. I was engaged to educate Angela, not to offer unasked advice to Mrs Crale. To do so would have been most impertinent.’
‘You liked Mrs Crale?’
‘I was very fond of Mrs Crale.’ The efficient voice softened, held warmth and feeling. ‘Very fond of her and very sorry for her.’
‘And your pupil-Angela Warren?’
‘She was a most interesting girl-one of the most interesting pupils I have had.