Five o’clock in the morning. Funny time to choose.” Mrs. Oliver didn’t think it so funny.
“Why?” “Why did she do it? Nobody knows.
Balance of mind disturbed, they said.” “Was she — young?” “Nah! Just an old trout. Fifty if she was a day.” Two men struggled in the van with a chest of drawers. It resisted them and two mahogany drawers crashed to the ground — a loose piece of paper floated toward Mrs. Oliver who caught it.
“Don’t smash everything, Charlie,” said the cheerful milkman reprovingly, and went up in the lift with his cargo of bottles.
An altercation broke out between the furniture movers. Mrs. Oliver offered them the piece of paper, but they waved it away.
Making up her mind, Mrs. Oliver entered the building and went up to No. 67. A clank came from inside and presently the door was opened by a middleaged woman with a mop who was clearly engaged in household labours.
“Oh,” said Mrs. Oliver, using her favourite monosyllable. “Good-morning.
Is — I wonder — is anyone in?” “No, I’m afraid not. Madam. They’re all out. They’ve gone to work.” “Yes, of course… As a matter of fact when I was here last I left a little diary behind. So annoying. It must be in the sitting-room somewhere.” “Well, I haven’t picked up anything of the kind. Madam, as far as I know. Of course I mightn’t have known it was yours.
Would you like to come in?” She opened the door hospitably, set aside the mop with which she had been treating the kitchen floor, and accompanied Mrs. Oliver into the sitting-room.
“Yes,” said Mrs. Oliver, determined to establish friendly relations, “yes, I see here — that’s the book I left for Miss Restarick, Miss Norma. Is she back from the country yet?” “I don’t think she’s living here at the moment.
Her bed wasn’t slept in. Perhaps she’s still down with her people in the country.
I know she was going there last weekend.” “Yes, I expect that’s it,” said Mrs.
Oliver. “This was a book I brought her.
One of my books.” One of Mrs. Oliver’s books did not seem to strike any chord of interest in the cleaning woman.
“I was sitting here,” went on Mrs.
Oliver, patting an armchair, “at least I think so. And then I moved to the window and perhaps to the sofa.” She dug down vehemently behind the cushions of the chair. The cleaning woman obliged by doing the same thing to the sofa cushions.
“You’ve no idea how maddening it is when one loses something like that,” went on Mrs. Oliver, chattily. “One has all one’s engagements written down there. I’m quite sure I’m lunching with someone very important today, and I can’t remember who it was or where the luncheon was to be.
Only, of course, it may be tomorrow. If so, I’m lunching with someone else quite different. Oh dear.” “Very trying for you, ma’am, I’m sure,” said the cleaning woman with sympathy.
“They’re such nice flats, these,” said Mrs. Oliver, looking round.
“A long way up.” “Well, that gives you a very good view, doesn’t it?” “Yes, but if they face east you get a lot of cold wind in winter. Comes right through these metal window frames. Some people have had double windows put in.
Oh yes, I wouldn’t care for a flat facing this way in winter. No, give me a nice ground floor flat every time. Much more convenient too if you’ve got children. For prams and all that, you know. Oh yes, I’m all for the ground floor, I am. Think if there was to be a fire.” “Yes, of course, that would be terrible,” said Mrs. Oliver. “I suppose there are fire escapes?” “You can’t always get to a fire door.
Terrified of fire, I am. Always have been.
And they’re ever so expensive, these flats.
You wouldn’t believe the rents they ask!
That’s why Miss Holland gets two other girls to go in with her.” “Oh yes, I think I met them both. Miss Gary’s an artist, isn’t she?” “Works for an art gallery, she does.
Don’t work at it very hard, though. She paints a bit — cows and trees that you’d never recognise as being what they’re meant to be. An untidy young lady. The state her room is in—you wouldn’t believe it! Now Miss Holland, everything is always as neat as a new pin. She was a secretary in the Coal Board at one time but she’s a private secretary in the City now.