They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie Read Free Book Online

I married over in the States. I can't - dang it all - I can't even talk to her now. Oh hell!'
    Miss Marple said gently:
    'I quite see your point of view.'
    Wally shot a swift glance at her.
    'You're the only one I've shot my mouth off to so far. Most of the time I shut up like a clam. Don't know what it is about you - you're English right enough, really English - but in the darndest way you remind me of my Aunt Betsy back home.'
    'Now that's very nice.'
    'A lot of sense she had,' Wally continued reflectively. 'Looked as frail as though you could snap her in two, but actually she was tough - yes, sir, I'll say she was tough.'
    He got up.
    'Sorry talking to you this way,' he apologized. For the first time, Miss Marple saw him smile. It was a very attractive smile, and Wally Hudd was suddenly transfigured from an awkward sulky boy into a handsome and appealing young man. 'Had to get things off my chest, I suppose. But too bad picking on you.'
    'Not at all, my dear boy,' said Miss Marple. 'I have a nephew of my own - only, of course, a great deal older than you are.'
    Her mind dwelt for a moment on the sophisticated modern writer Raymond West. A greater contrast to Walter Hudd could not have been imagined.
    'You've got other company coming,' said Walter Hudd. 'That dame doesn't like me. So I'll quit. So long, ma'am. Thanks for the talk.'
    He strode away and Miss Marple watched Mildred Strete coming across the lawn to join her.

They Do It With Mirrors
    II
    'I see you've been victimized by that terrible young man,' said Mrs Strete, rather breathlessly, as she sank down on the seat. 'What a tragedy that is.'
    'A tragedy?'
    'Gina's marriage. It all came about from sending her off to America. I told mother at the time it was most unwise. After all, this is quite a quiet district. We had hardly any raids here. I do so dislike the way many people gave way to panic about their families - and themselves, too, very often.'
    'It must have been difficult to decide what was right to do,' said Miss Marple thoughtfully. 'Where children were concerned, I mean. With the prospect of possible invasion, it might have meant their being brought up under a German rйgime - as well as the danger of bombs.'
    'All nonsense,' said Mrs Strete. 'I never had the least doubt that we should win. But mother has always been quite unreasonable where Gina is concerned. The child was always spoilt and indulged in every way. There was absolutely no need to take her away from Italy in the first place.'
    'Her father raised no objection, I understand?'
    'Oh San Severiano! You know what Italians are. Nothing matters to them but money. He married Pippa for her money, of course.'
    'Dear me. I always understood he was very devoted to her and was quite inconsolable at her death.'
    'He pretended to be, no doubt. Why mother ever countenanced her marrying a foreigner, I can't imagine. Just the usual American pleasure in a title, I suppose.'
    Miss Marple said mildly:
    'I always thought that dear Carrie Louise was almost too unworldly in her attitude to life.'
    'Oh, I know. I've no patience with it. Mother's fads and whims and idealistic projects. You've no idea, Aunt Jane, of all that it has meant. I can speak with knowledge, of course. I was brought up in the middle of it all.'
    It was with a very faint shock that Miss Marple heard herself addressed as Aunt Jane. And yet that had been the convention of those times. Her Christmas presents to Carrie Louise's children were always labelled 'With love from Aunt Jane,' and as 'Aunt Jane' they thought of her, when they thought of her at all. Which was not, Miss Marple supposed, very often.
    She looked thoughtfully at the middle-aged woman sitting beside her. At the pursed tight mouth, the deep lines from the nose down, the hands tightly pressed together.
    She said gently:
    'You must have had - a difficult childhood.'
    Mildred Strete turned eager grateful eyes to her.
    'Oh I'm so glad that somebody appreciates that. People don't really