Chapter 3 third chapter

Mr. Entwhistle sat in a corner of a first-class carriage on the train to London, thinking uneasily of Cora Lansquenet's unusual remark.Of course, Cora is a bit of an unbalanced and overly stupid woman, and even since she was a little girl, everyone has found her to burst out with embarrassing truths.No, he didn't mean to tell the "truth" - that's not appropriate.It should have been "embarrassing words"—that would be a much better way of saying it. He flashed back in his mind the situation before the ominous words were spoken.So many eyes mixed with shock and condemnation made Cora feel that she was really guilty of uttering those words.

Moody exclaimed, "Really, Cora!" George said, "My good aunt Cora," and another said, "What do you mean?" Cora Lansquenet, who immediately felt extremely guilty and ashamed, suddenly changed her words in a panic. "Oh, I'm sorry - I didn't mean to - oh, yes, I was very stupid, but from what he said, I do think - oh, of course I know there's nothing wrong with it, but he died so suddenly - just Act as if I didn't say anything - I didn't mean to be so stupid - I know I always say the wrong thing..." Afterwards, the momentary unease vanished, and they began to discuss practical matters concerning the disposition of some of Richard Abernether's private property.The house and everything in it, Mr Entwhistle added, will be put up for auction.

Cora's gaffe has been completely forgotten.After all, Cora has always been embarrassingly naive, although she is not an imbecile.She never knew what to say and what not to say, and it didn't matter much when she was a minor.Everyone will laugh it off as "children's words", but it is too unreasonable for people who are almost fifty to say "children's words".Suddenly speaking the unwelcome truth—— Mr. Entwhistle's thoughts were interrupted suddenly, and the disturbing word appeared a second time.Honestly, why are those two words so disturbing?Of course, because this feeling was always hidden beneath the embarrassment caused by Cora's words.Because her innocent and straightforward words were either true or contained certain facts, they were so embarrassing!

Although Mr. Entwhistle could see nothing in the chubby woman of forty-nine that resembled the demented girl in her early years, some of Cora's peculiar eccentricity was still there-when she said the hateful words The head was tilted a little bird-like to one side—a look of pleasant anticipation, as Cora once criticized the figure of a kitchen maid: "Molly could hardly get close to the kitchen table, her belly It's so prominent. It looks like she's eight or nine months pregnant. I wonder why she's so fat?" Cora was quickly silenced, and Abernethir's tutoring was in the Victorian way.The kitchen maid disappeared the next day, and after investigation a gardener was ordered to marry her and assigned them a small house.

It was a long time ago - but they have their reasons for doing this... Mr Entwhistle probed further into the reasons for his uneasiness.What was it about Ke Na's absurd words that caused ripples in his subconscious?After a while he pulled out two sentences. "From what he said I do think—" and "He died so suddenly..." Mr. Entwhistle began by exploring the second sentence.It is true that Richard's death was, on the whole, sudden.Mr. Entwhistle had talked about Richard's health problems with Richard himself and with his doctor, who frankly could not expect him to live long.If Mr. Abernether took care of himself, he might live another two or three years.Maybe longer -- but unlikely.In any case, doctors do not predict short-term death.

Well, the doctor was wrong--but the doctor himself was the first to admit that he was never sure of knowing exactly how each patient responded to the disease.The hopeless patient recovers unexpectedly.The recovering patient deteriorates and dies.What matters is the patient's vitality, his inner desire to live. Six months earlier, his only surviving son, Mortimer, had contracted polio and died within a week.His death was like a bolt from the blue, he was so strong and full of life.A keen adventurer as well as a good sportsman, he was a young man who was said to have never had a day of sickness.He was about to be engaged to an attractive girl, and his father's future hopes were entirely set in a son who would satisfy him completely.

But hope was dashed and replaced by tragedy.Except for the pain of old age and wounds, the future was dull for Richard Abernether.One son died young, the second was never born, and he has no grandchildren.In fact, he is extinct.Who will inherit his wealth and take over his business? Mr. Entwhistle knew that this worried the old man deeply.His only surviving younger brother is almost like a useless person, and the rest are the younger generation.Lawyer Ann thought that Richard wanted to pick an heir out of them, although he didn't say so.At any rate, as far as Anhui knew, he invited them to live with him during the best six months of his life, his nephew George, his niece Susan, and her husband, his niece Rosamund with her husband, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Leo Abernether.Lawyer An thought to himself that he wanted to choose one of the first three to be his heir.Helen Abernether had been invited by him out of personal affection, and perhaps even because he wanted her opinion, for Richard had always valued her discernment and practical judgment.Mr. Entwhistle also remembered that during those six months Richard paid a brief visit to his brother Timothy.

The best result is the will that Lawyer An now carries in his handbag, and the property is divided equally.So the only conclusion is that he was disappointed with his nephew, niece, and niece—perhaps including his niece's husband. As far as Mr. Entwhistle knew, he had not invited his sister, Cora Lansquenett--which brings Attorney Ann back to a disturbing and untrue remark made by Cora--but from what he I do think that-- What did Richard Abernether say?When did you say that?If Cora did not come to Enderby, it must have been Richard Abernether who had gone to her cottage in an artists' village in Berkshire.Or what Richard had said in his letter to her?

Mr. Entwhistle frowned. Of course Cora was a very stupid woman.She could easily misinterpret the words in his letters and distort their meaning.But he did doubt what kind of text it was... He was so disturbed that he considered going to Mrs. Lansquenet to talk about it, not too soon, but as if it didn't matter.But he wanted to know exactly what Richard Abernether had said to her, and made her blurt out the hateful words: "But he was murdered, wasn't he?" In a carriage of the same train, Greg Banks said to his wife: "Your precious aunt must be a madman!" "Aunt Cora?" Susan said vaguely. "Ah, yes, I'm sure she's always been a little childish or something."

George Crosfield, sitting opposite, suddenly said: "She should be stopped from saying this kind of thing everywhere, it may arouse suspicion from others." Rosamund Sheen, who was holding a lipstick to outline her Cupid's arched lips, said vaguely: "I don't think anyone will pay attention to what a woman who has never seen the world says. That shabby and outdated dress is extremely weird, and what kind of beads are it..." "In any case, I still think it should be stopped," George said. "Okay," Rosamund laughed, putting away her lipstick and looking at herself in the mirror with satisfaction. "You go and stop it."

Her husband suddenly said: "I think George is right. It's easy to get gossip." "Even so, what does it matter?" Rosamund thought about this question.Her Cupid's arched lips parted in a smile. "That might be fun." "Fun?" Four voices said at the same time. "There was a murder in the family," Rosamund said. "It's thrilling enough, you know!" Greg Banks, looking tense and sullen, suddenly felt that Susan's cousin, apart from her attractive appearance, might resemble her aunt in some way, and what she went on to say confirmed his idea. "If he was murdered," said Rosamund, "who do you think it was?" She looked around thoughtfully at the people in the carriage. "His death was good for all of us," she said. "Mike and I are at the end of our ropes. Mike has a good part to play in that 'Waysha' play, and if he can Until then. Now that we're rich, we can put out our own play if we want. There's actually a play with a great character in it..." No one was listening to Rosamund's rapturous speech, their attention was diverted to their own future. "We'll get out of danger at last," thought George. "Now I can transfer that money and no one will know...but it's almost over." Greg closed his eyes and reclined back in his chair to avoid being disturbed by others. Susan said in her clear, somewhat raspy voice: "Of course I feel very sorry for poor Uncle Richard. But he's getting old, and Mortimer's dead, and he has nothing left to live for, and he's very sorry for Mr. For him, living like a disabled person year after year is a terrible thing, it would be better to just leave suddenly and quietly like that." Her youthful, self-assured piercing eyes softened as they fell on her husband's rapt face.She loved Greg dearly, and she had a vague feeling that Greg didn't love her as much as she loved him--but it only intensified her passion.Greg was hers, and she would do anything for him.no matter what it is... Moody Abernether, who stayed overnight in Enderby, changed her clothes and prepared to eat. She didn't know whether she should propose to stay and help Helen clean up the house—it must be some of Richard's personal things... maybe some letters ...all the important papers, she thought, had been taken by Mr. Entwhistle.But she really had to rush back to Timothy's side as soon as possible. When she was not at home to take care of him, he was always so anxious. She hoped that he would be happy about the will instead of being sad.She knew that he predicted that most of Richard's property would go to him. After all, he was the only surviving Abernethier, and Richard could certainly trust him to take care of the younger generation.Yes, she was afraid Timothy would be annoyed . . . it would interfere with his digestion considerably.And, when he's depressed, he can be quite unreasonable.Sometimes he loses his sense of balance because of it... She doesn't know if she should talk to Dr. He was always so angry when taking medicine.But they can be a dangerous thing--Dr. Barton said so--and you can get so sleepy that you forget you've had it--and eat it again.Then anything can happen!But there probably isn't much left in the bottle... Timothy is really vicious, he likes to make jokes about medicine.He doesn't listen to her...sometimes he's really tough. She sighed—and brightened—everything would be easier now.Rather, the garden— Helen Abernether sat by the fire in the green-toned living room, waiting for Moody to come down to supper. She looked around, remembering the old days with Leo and the others here.This used to be a happy house and a house like this needs people.Needs children and servants and feasts and roaring fires in winter.It was once a sad house, inhabited by an old bereaved old man... He didn't know, who would buy it?Will it be converted into a hotel, or a clubhouse, or a hostel for young people?This is what happens to these big houses these days.No one will buy it to live in.Maybe it will be torn down and rebuilt.Thinking of this made her feel sad, but she resolutely got rid of this sad feeling.Nostalgia for the past is no good.The house, the happy times here, Richard and Leo, it's all good, but it's all in the past.She has her own life and friends and interests.Yes, her own interests... Now, with the regular income Richard had left her, she could stay at the villa in Cyprus and do all the things she planned to do. Lately she's been obsessed with money problems--taxes--all investments gone wrong... Now, thanks to the money Richard left her, all troubles will be over... Poor Richard.It was a great mercy from the heavens to not be able to sleep like that...Suddenly on the 22nd——she thought this was the reason why Cora had that idea.Cora is horrific!Always have been.Helen remembered meeting her once overseas, shortly after her marriage to Peary Lansquenet.She was extraordinarily stupid that day, she was an idiot, tilting her head, talking dogmatically about paintings, especially commenting on her husband's paintings, he must have felt very uncomfortable.No man can stand his wife acting so stupid.Cora is such an idiot!Alas, poor thing, there was nothing she could do otherwise, and her precious husband was not very kind to her. Helen's gaze was fixed on a bouquet of wax flowers on a malachite round table, and she turned a blind eye.While everyone was sitting here waiting to go to church, Cora sat at that round table.She recalled fond memories of her childhood with glee, and let out a cry of joy each time she remembered one.Apparently she was so happy to be back at her old home again that she was so happy that she forgot what they were all together for. "But," thought Helen, "maybe she's just not as hypocritical as we are..." Cora had never been one to pay attention to customs.Look at her presumptuous face when she suddenly asked: "But he was murdered, wasn't he?" Every face around her suddenly became terrified, staring at her wide-eyed in shock!The expressions on those faces must have been ever-changing... That scene clearly reappeared in Helen's mind, and she suddenly frowned... There was something wrong with that scene... "Something...?" "someone……" Is it the look on someone's face?Yes or no?Some kind of—what should she say? ――Things that shouldn't be there...? She didn't know...she couldn't find it...but there was something - somewhere - wrong. At the same time, in a cafeteria in Swindon, a woman in a mourning gown decorated with mosaic beads is drinking tea, eating a bun and looking forward to the future.She showed no mournful expression.She is very happy. This trip across the country is of course tiring.It's much easier to get back to Richter St Mary's via London - and it's not as expensive.Ah, but the expense is nothing these days.But if she did, she'd have to walk with her family -- and maybe talk to them along the way.Too much trouble. No, it is better to go to Yuexiang.These buns are delicious.Going to a funeral makes one extra hungry.Enderby's soup is delicious - and cheese. Those people are so pretentious - utter hypocrites!All those faces - when she speaks of murder!They stared wide-eyed at the way she looked! Well, that's true.She nodded approvingly.Yes, that's the right thing to do. She looked up at the clock.The train she was going to catch was five minutes away.She drank the tea.Not so good tea.She made a face. She sat there daydreaming for a while.Dreaming of the future unfolding in front of her eyes... She smiled like a happy child. She could finally have a good time... She was busy planning in her mind, walked out of the restaurant, and walked towards a small train on the branch line...