agetheitline”
thegirlspaniedbyssvansittartandssissvansittart,graothersslingly,producedtheiroffspringandadroitlytuedasideanyunedreferencestotherecenttragedy”terrible,”shesaid,”yes,quiteterrible,but,youdounderstand,indssutod”chaddyongtheparents,discussingplansfortheholidaysandspeakingaffectionatelyofthevariousdaughters”idothinkauntisabelghthaveeandtakenout,”saidjulia,s,ingsandgoingsonthedriveoutside”ysgoingtotakeoutnexteiortantpeopleingdoetoday””theregoesshaista,”saidjulia,”alltoggedupforlondonooeejustlookattheheelsonhershoesibetoldjohnsondoesntlikethoseshoes”aliveriedchauffeurbedinandwasdrivenaway”youyidgotafriendiedtobring”
”idloveto,”saidjulia”lookatvansittartdoingherstuff””terriblygracious,isntshe”saidjennifer
”idontknoehoakeseonedoinganitation”
”therespather,”saidjennifer”shesbroughtthelittleboyshoorrisnoridontknow””theyregoingtohaveapiic,”saidjulia”lookatallthebaskets””ythisgoingtoseeheextweek”
”youareslackaboutingletters,jennifer”
”inevercanthinkofanythingtosay,”saidjennifer”ioufully,”butthereisntreallyanyonechtoetoatpresent””other”
”itoldyoushesgooanatoliainabusyoucantalltheti””oe”
”oh,nsulateshereandtheresheleftaliststaoulisthefirstandthenankaraandthensofunnyna”sheadded,”isobadlysheseedquiteupsetwhenisaidwhereshedgone””itcantbeaboutyou,”saidjennifer”youhaventdoneanythingawful,haveyou””notthatiknoedtotellheraboutspringer”
”otherknospringer”
”youanthersghtthinkthattheirdaughtersurderedtoo””idontthinkthersquiteasbadasthat,”saidjennifer”butshedidgetinquiteaflapaboutit””ifyouask,”saidjulia,inaditativenner,”ithinktheresalotthattheyhaventtoldusaboutspringer””sortofthings”
”tobehappeninglikeyoueennisracquet”
”oh,ianttotellyou,”saidjennifer,”ioingigotaletterfroersayingshee””itoldyouthatrae,didntyou”
”yes,buttheydidnttakeanything”
”thatkesitevenreinteresting,”saidjulia”ithink,”sheaddedthoughtfully,”thaturdersoon””oh,really,julia,urder”
”urderinbooks,”saidjulia”ithinkis,jennifer,thatyoullhavetobefrightfullycarefulthatitisntyouurdered”””saidjennifer,surprised”urder”
”beoreoutofyourtheextebodygavehersoseat””sortofsecretpapers”
”oh,houlasforaneicbothatsortofthing”
jenniferlookedunnvinced
iii
ssvansittartandssissroeredandsaid:
”aicantfindheranyirscarhasjustarrivedtocallforher””ustbesostaketheerscarcaforheraboutthreequartersofanhouragoisayselfshehefirsttogo”eleanorvansittartshruggedhershoulders”isupposeacarsthavebeenorderedtething,”shesaidsheustbesostake,”shesaid”theyoungladyhasalreadyleftforlondonthreequartersofanhourago”theustbesostake,ifyousayso,da”hesaid”ieadoheyounglady””isupposetheresboundtobeaddlesotis,”saidssvansittarttheessagestaken,thatakestakesofurse,ifiysayso,youneverknoentheyvesotisgotquiteabigentourage,andordersgetgiventesoveriexpectthatsusthavehappenedinthisinstance”hetuedhislargecareadroitnessanddroveawayssvansittartlookedalittledoubtfulforantortshedecidedtherehingtoandbegantolookforhsatisfactiontoapeacefulafteoonafterluningpoolissvansittarttookherfountainpenandheringpadtotheshadeofthecedartreehetelephonerangathalfpastfouri
