‘I don’t wonder Gina fell in love with him!’
‘Oh, but that – that isn’t Wally.’ There was, quite suddenly, a touch of embarrassment, or restraint, in Mrs Serrocold’s voice. ‘That’s Steve – the younger of Johnnie Restarick’s two boys. When Johnnie – when he went away, he’d no place for the boys in the holidays, so I always had them here. They look on this as their home.
And Steve’s here permanently now. He runs our dramatic branch. We have a theatre, you know, and plays we encourage all the artistic instincts. Lewis says that so much of this juvenile crime is due to exhibitionism, most of the boys have had such a thwarted unhappy home life, and these hold-ups and burglaries make them feel heroes.
We urge them to write their own plays and act in them and design and paint their own scenery. Steve is in charge of the theatre. He’s so keen and enthusiastic. It’s wonderful what life he’s put into the whole thing.’ ‘I see,’ said Miss Marple slowly.
Her long-distance sight was good (as many of her neighbours knew to their cost in the village of St Mary Mead) and she saw very clearly the dark handsome face of Stephen Restarick as he stood facing Gina, talking eagerly. Gina’s face she could not see, since the girl had her back to them, but there was no mistaking the expression in Stephen Restarick’s face.
‘It isn’t any business of mine,’ said Miss Marple, ‘but I suppose you realize, Carrie Louise, that he’s in love with her.’ ‘Oh no -‘ Carrie Louise looked troubled. ‘Oh no, I do hope not.’ ‘You were always up in the clouds, Carrie Louise.
There’s not the least doubt about it.’
CHAPTER 4
Before Mrs Serrocold could say anything, her husband came in from the hall carrying some open letters in his hand.
Lewis Serrocold was a short man, not particularly impressive in appearance, but with a personality that immediately marked him out. Ruth had once said of him that he was more like a dynamo than a human being. He usually concentrated entirely on what was immediately occupying his attention and paid no attention to the objects or persons who were surrounding them.
‘A bad blow, dearest,’ he said. ‘That boy, Jackie Flint.
Back at his tricks again. And I really did think he meant to go straight this time if he got a proper chance. He was most earnest about it. You know we found he’d always been keen on railways – and both Maverick and I thought that if he got a job on the railways he’d stick to it and make good. But it’s the same story. Petty thieving from the parcels office. Not even stuff he could want or sell. That shows that it must be psychological. We haven’t really got to the root of the trouble. But I’m not giving up.’ ‘Lewis – this is my old friend, Jane Marple.’ ‘Oh how d’you do,’ said Mr Serrocold absently. ‘So glad – they’ll prosecute, of course. A nice lad, too, not too many brains, but a really nice boy. Unspeakable home he came from. I ‘ He suddenly broke off, and the dynamo was switched on to the guest.
‘Why, Miss Marple, I’m so delighted you’ve come to stay with us for a while. It will make such a great difference to Caroline to have a friend of old days with whom she can exchange memories. She has in many ways a grim time here – so much sadness in the stories of these poor children. We do hope you’ll stay with us a very long time.’ Miss Marple felt the magnetism and realized how attractive it would have been to her friend. That Lewis Serrocold was a man who would always put causes before people she did not doubt for a moment. It might have irritated some women, but not Carrie Louise.
Lewis Serrocold sorted out another letter.
‘At any rate we’ve some good news. This is from the Wiltshire and Somerset Bank. Young Morris is doing extremely well. They’re thoroughly satisfied with him and in fact are promoting him next month. I always knew that all he needed was responsibility – that, and a thorough grasp of the handling of money and what it means.’ He turned to Miss Marple.