Man-woman relationships -- Fiction; Mystery fiction; Young men -- Fiction
Ross did not relish the glimpse he had of his reflection in the
mirror. That snug-fitting jacket with a belt in the back, those
breeches, those puttees—he did not like them. Worst of all, Eddy’s
collar would not meet round his neck, and he had fastened it with a
safety pin. As he took up the peaked cap and followed the cheerful
youth, he felt, not like an accomplice in a tragedy, but like a very
complete fool—and that did not please him.
They crossed the lawn to the house, went in at the back door, and
entered the kitchen. There he sat down to breakfast with the cook, the
housemaid, the laundress, and Eddy. The kitchen was warm and clean,
and neat as a new pin; very agreeable in the morning sunshine. The
breakfast was good, and he was very hungry, and ate with a healthy
appetite. But, except for a civil good morning, he did not say one
word.
For he was listening. He was waiting, in an unpleasant state of
tension, for something which would shatter this comfortable serenity.
It must come. It was not possible that the figure under the sofa
should remain undiscovered, that life should progress as if nothing at
all had happened. Amy had said this was the “last day.”
Nothing interrupted the breakfast, though; and, when he had finished,
he went back to the garage, to look over the sedan he was to drive. It
was a good car, and in perfect condition; nothing for him to do there.
He lit a cigarette, and stood talking to Eddy for a time.
Eddy’s theme was Mr. Solway, Miss Amy’s long-suffering stepfather.
“He’s the best man Gawd ever made,” said Eddy, seriously. “My father
was coachman to him for eighteen years, and when he passed out, Mr.
Solway, he kept me here. He seen that I got a good education and all.
I wanted this here shover’s job, but he said nothing doing. He said
I’d ought to get a job with a future. I’m down in the telephone
comp’ny now—repair man. He lets me live here for nothing—just for
doing a few odd jobs. He’s a prince!” He stamped out his cigarette
with his heel. “And he has a hell of a life!” he added.
“How?” asked Ross, thirsting for any sort of information about this
household.
“Her,” said Eddy. “Remember, I’m not saying nothing against Miss Amy.
I’ve known her all my life. But, I’ve done things for that girl I
wouldn’t have done for my own mother.” He paused. “I done things for
her I wish to Gawd I hadn’t done,” he said, and fell silent.
Ross was silent, too. He remembered how Eddy had closed the door of
the housekeeper’s room. He remembered how very anxious Eddy had been
to keep him shut up in the garage all night. And he remembered that
Eddy carried a revolver.
Why should he imagine that Amy Solway would do for herself any
unpleasing task, when apparently she found it so easy to make others
do things for her? This boy admitted he had done things for her which
he wished “to Gawd” he hadn’t.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account