第30部分(第1/7 頁)

re　in　St　Mary　Mead；　my　dear；　and　that　is　a　fact。　If　you　hadn't　e　into　this　money　and　gone　off　into　grand　society；　I　would　have　offered　you　double　the　salary　poor　Jane　gave　you　to　e　and　look　after　me；　but　there　…　there's　no　good　wanting　what　we　can't　get。　However；　if　things　should　go　ill　with　you　…　and　that　is　always　possible。　I　have　heard　no　end　of　tales　of　bogus　noblemen　marrying　girls　and　getting　hold　of　their　money　and　then　leaving　them　at　the　church　door。　I　dare　say　you　are　too　sensible　for　anything　of　the　kind　to　happen　to　you；　but　one　never　knows；　and　never　having　had　much　attention　of　any　kind　it　might　easily　go　to　your　head　now。　So　just　in　case；　my　dear；　remember　there　is　always　a　home　for　you　here；　and　though　a　plain…spoken　woman　I　am　a　warm…hearted　one　too。

〃Your　affectionate　old　friend；

〃Amelia　Viner。

〃P。S。　…　I　saw　a　mention　of　you　in　the　paper　with　your　cousin；　Viscountess　Tamplin；　and　I　cut　it　out　and　put　it　with　my　cuttings。　I　prayed　for　you　on　Sunday　that　you　might　be　kept　from　pride　and　vain　glory。〃

Katherine　read　this　characteristic　epistle　through　twice；　then　she　laid　it　down　and　stared　out　of　her　bedroom　window　across　the　blue　waters　of　the　Mediterranean。　She　felt　a　curious　lump　in　her　throat。　A　sudden　wave　of　longing　for　St　Mary　Mead　swept　over　her。　So　full　of　familiar；　everyday；　stupid　little　things　…　and　yet　…　home。　She　felt　very　inclined　to　lay　her　head　down　on　her　arms　and　indulge　in　a　real　good　cry。

Lenox；　ing　in　at　the　moment；　saved　her。

〃Hello；　Katherine；〃　said　Lenox。　〃I　say　…　what　is　the　matter？〃

〃Nothing；〃　said　Katherine；　grabbing　up　Miss　Viner's　letter　and　thrusting　it　into　her　handbag。

〃You　looked　rather　queer；〃　said　Lenox。　〃I　say　…　I　hope　you　don't　mind　…　I　rang　up　your　detective