Postern of Fate Read Online Free PDF Page B

meet you, too. I suppose you've nearly settled into your house by now?'
    'I thought we should be settled by now,' said Tuppence, 'but it seems as though there's a long time to go still. It's so very hard with electricians and then carpenters and people. They're always coming back.'
    A slight dispute arose with people near her supporting the claims of electricians and the Gas Board.
    'Gas people are the worst,' said Miss Little, with firmness, 'because, you see, they come all the way over from Lower Stamford. The electricity people only have to come from Wellbank.'
    The arrival of the vicar to say a few words of encouragement and good cheer to the helpers changed the subject. He also expressed himself very pleased to meet his new parishioner, Mrs Beresford.
    'We know all about you,' he said. 'Oh yes indeed. And your husband. A most interesting talk I had the other day about you both. What an interesting life you must have had. I dare say it's not supposed to be spoken of, so I won't. I mean, in the last war. A wonderful performance on your and your husband's part.'
    'Oh, do tell us, Vicar,' said one of the ladies, detaching herself from the stall where she was setting up jars of jam.
    'I was told in strict confidence,' said the vicar. 'I think I saw you walking round'the churchyard yesterday, Mrs Beresford.'
    'Yes,' said Tuppence. 'I looked into the church first. I see you have one or two very attractive windows.'
    'Yes, yes, they date back to the fourteenth century. That is, the one in the north aisle does. But of course most of them are Victorian.'
    'Walking round the churchyard,' said Tuppence, 'it seemed to me there were a great many Parkinsons buried there.'
    'Yes, yes indeed. There've always been big contingents of Parkinsons in this part of the world, though of course I don't remember any of them myself, but you do, I think, Mrs Lupton.'
    Mrs Lupton, an elderly lady who was supporting herself on two sticks, looked pleased.
    'Yes, yes,' she said. 'I remember when Mrs Parkinson was alive - you know, old Mrs Parkinson, the Mrs Parkinson who lived in the Manor House, wonderful old lady she was. Quite wonderful.'
    'And there were some Somers I saw, and the Chattertons.'
    'Ah, I see you're getting up well with our local geography of the past.'
    'I think I heard something about a Jordan - Annie or Mary Jordan, was it?'
    Tuppence looked round her in an enquiring fashion. The name of Jordan seemed to cause no particular interest.
    'Somebody had a cook called Jordan, I think. Mrs Blackwell. Susan Jordan I think it was. She only stayed six months, I think. Quite unsatisfactory in many ways.'
    'Was that a long time ago?'
    'Oh no. Just about eight or ten years ago I think. Not more than that.'
    'Are there any Parkinsons living here now?'
    'Oh no. They're all gone long ago. One of them married a first cousin and went to live in Kenya, I believe.'
    'I wonder,' said Tuppence, managing to attach herself to Mrs Lupton, who she knew had something to do with the local children's hospital, 'I wonder if you want any extra children's books. They're all old ones, I mean. I got them in an odd lot when we were bidding for some of the furniture that was for sale in our house.'
    'Well, that's very kind of you, I'm sure, Mrs Beresford. Of course we do have some very good ones, given to us you know. Special editions for children nowadays. One does feel it's a pity they should have to read all those old-fashioned books.'
    'Oh, do you think so?' said Tuppence. 'I loved the books that I had as a child. Some of them,' she said, 'had been my grandmother's when she was a child. I believe I liked those best of all. I shall never forget reading Treasure Island, and Mrs Molesworth's Four Winds Farm and some of Stanley Weyman's.'
    She looked round her enquiringly - then, resigning herself, she looked at her wrist-watch, exclaimed at finding how late it was and took her leave.
    Tuppence, having got home, put the car away in the garage and walked round the house