Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven Car Accident Happened

The great crash planners set up a meeting point about a mile from the village of Staveley.It was here that the main road to Andover branched off to Steverley. Although Frankie's Stander car was clearly showing signs of aging as it passed every hillside, the three arrived at the assembly point safely. The time of the incident was set at one o'clock. "We don't want to be disturbed about this," said Frankie. "There's hardly any traffic to go around, so we should be perfectly safe at lunchtime." They traveled half a mile on the side road, and Frankie pointed out the spot she had chosen to cause the accident.

"I don't think the place is ideal," she said. "Right down the hill, and as you can see, the road turns very sharply into the ledge. That wall is the Merowway Court." The wall. If we start the car and let the car go downhill, the car will hit the wall straight, so there should be a pretty hard impact." "I should say that's fine," agreed Bobby, "but someone should be watching the turn to make sure no one is coming from the opposite direction." "Exactly," said Frankie, "we don't want to get people into this mess that might cripple them for life. George could park his car there and turn around, as if It was coming from the other direction. Then he waved his handkerchief to show that there was no obstacle in the way."

"You look pale, Frankie," said Bobby worriedly. "Are you sure you're in good health?" "I put my makeup on very white," Frankie explained, "in preparation for a crash. You don't want me to be carried into the house all red?" "You're a wonderful woman," said Bobby appreciatively, "and now you look like a sick monkey." "I think you're being rash," said Frankie. "Now, I'm going to survey the gate into Merowe Court. It's just on this side of the ledge. Luckily there's no porter. George waves his handkerchief first, then I wave, and then you start the car."

"Okay," said Bobby, "I'll steer the car by stepping on the running board next to the door, and I'll jump out when it's hot." "Don't hurt," said Frankie. "I will be very careful, otherwise a real car accident happens at the scene of a fake car accident, and things will get even more troublesome." "Well, let's go, George," said Frankie. George nodded, jumped into the used car, and drove slowly down the hill.Bobby and Frankie were there watching him off. "You take care of yourself, don't you, Frankie?" Bobby's voice broke suddenly. "I mean . . . don't do anything stupid."

"I'll be all right. I'll be very cautious. By the way, I don't think I'd better write to you directly. I'll write to George, or to my maid, or someone else, and pass it on to you." "I don't know if George will do well in his line of business." "Why isn't he doing well?" "Well, he doesn't seem to have the nagging powers of a doctor to a patient." "I expect there will be," said Frankie. "I'd better go now. I'll let you know when I need you to come in the Bentley." "I'm busy with my beard. Good-bye, Frankie."

They looked at each other for a moment, and Frankie nodded and started down the slope. George had turned the car around and backed up near the ledge. Frankie disappeared for a moment, then reappeared on the road, waving a handkerchief, then a second handkerchief waved at the bend at the end of the road. Bobby shifted the car into third gear, then stood on the running boards and let off the brakes. The car barely moves forward and normal functioning is hampered.However, the slope was too steep, the engine roared, and the body began to move.Bobby held the steering wheel steady. At the last moment, he jumped out of the car.

The car rushed down the hill and hit the wall with great force.All went well and the car crash was a success. Bobby saw Frankie running to the scene of the car accident quickly, and fell into the crashed car with a "thump".George pulled the car around the bend and stopped. Bobby sighed, got on his motorcycle and drove towards London. The scene of the accident was hectic. "Shall I roll a little on the road and get some dirt on me?" asked Frankie. "Maybe," said George, "here, give me my hat." He took the hat and made a deep dent in it.Frankie let out a cry of pain.

"That's a concussion," George explained. "Okay, go lie still where you just lay. I hear a bicycle bell." Indeed, at that moment, a boy of about seventeen whistling and turning the corner on a bicycle.He stopped short, delighted to see the ridiculous situation. "Hey!" he suddenly called out, "Have you had a car accident?" "No," George sneered, "the young lady drove her car into a wall on purpose." The lad took the remark as sarcasm rather than truth, and said, still cheerfully, "It looks bad, doesn't it? Is she dead?"

"Not yet," said George. "She'll have to be carried somewhere soon. I'm a doctor. What's the name of this house in the wall?" "Merowe House. Belongs to Bassington-French, who is a magistrate." "She has to be picked up right away," said George with authority. "Come here, put down the bike, and give me a hand." The young man propped his bicycle against the wall and willingly came to help.They picked Frankie up the drive and walked to the comfortable, old-fashioned-looking manor house. They had already attracted attention when they approached the Qiu mansion, and an elderly butler came out to meet them.

"There's been a car accident," said George curtly. "Is there a room I can take this lady into? She must be nursed right away." The butler walked into the hall in panic, followed by George and the young man, still carrying Frankie's limp body.The butler went into the room on the left, and a woman came out of that room.She was tall, red-haired, in her mid-thirties, and had blue eyes. She handles issues very quickly. "There's a spare bedroom on the ground floor," she said. "Can you take her there? Should I call a doctor?" "I'm a doctor," George declared hastily, "I happened to be driving by and saw a car accident happen."

"Oh! How lucky. Will you come here?" She showed them the way into a comfortable bedroom.The bedroom windows overlook the garden. "Is she badly hurt?" she asked. "I can't say yet." Mrs. Bassington-French took the doctor's hints and withdrew.The young man accompanied her and began to describe the crash as if he were a real witness. "She literally slammed into the fence and wrecked the car. She was lying on the ground with her hat all crushed. The gentleman was driving by..." He went on talking like that until he had half a crown. Meanwhile, Frankie and George were whispering cautiously. "George, dear, it wouldn't hurt your career would it? They wouldn't revoke your registration or something like that?" "That's possible," said George grimly, "if it ever comes out." "No," said Frankie, "don't worry, George. I won't let you down." She added kindly, "You've done a good job, I never heard you talk so much before. .” George sighed and looked at his watch. "I'm going to do a three-minute check." "How is the car?" "I'll arrange for a garage to have it fixed." "OK." George continued to look at the watch in his hand, and finally said in a relaxed tone: "It's time." "George," said Frankie, "you're an angel. I don't see why you do it." "I'm not going to do it again," said George. "It's such a damn stupid thing." He nodded to her and said, "Goodbye, I wish you a happy day." "I don't know if I'll be happy," said Frankie.She remembered the slightly American voice: cold and impersonal. George went to find the owner of the house, only to find that the mistress was waiting for him in the living room. "Ah," he said suddenly, "I'm glad to say that it's not as bad as I feared. The concussion was mild and has passed. She should lie there quietly for a day or two, though. ’” he added after a pause, “she seems to be Miss Frances de Winter.” "Oh, that's incredible!" said Mrs. Bassington-French. "Then I'm also acquainted with her relatives, the Draycotts." "I don't know if it's convenient for you to keep her here," said George, "but if she can really stay here for a day or two..." At this point, George stopped talking. "Oh, of course. That's all right, your name is—" "Arbuthnot. By the way, I'm going to take care of the car, and I'm going to pass a garage." "Thank you so much, Dr. Arbuthnot. I'm lucky you happened to be passing here. I think a doctor should come and see her tomorrow to see if she's doing well." "No need," said George, "all she needs is silence." "But I should be satisfied. Her family should know about it." "I'll take care of that," said George. "As for the diagnosis and treatment, well, it seems like she's a Christian natural scientist who doesn't pay too much for a doctor. She wouldn't be too worried if she found me there. Happy." "Oh, dear!" exclaimed Mrs. Bassington-French. "She'll be all right, though," George tried to reassure. "You can take my word for it." "If you really think so, Dr. Arbuthnot." Mrs. Bassington-French was suspicious. "I'm sure," said George, "bye. Oops, I lost a tool in the bedroom." He walked quickly into the room and walked to the bed. "Frankie," he whispered hastily, "you're a Christian naturalist, don't forget." "why?" "That's all I have to say, the only way." "Well," said Frankie, "I won't forget."