The Hollow – Agatha Christie
“Well at any rate, the weather isn’t going to present difficulties. It looks as though it had set in fine. That’s something. Because if a lot of discordant personalities are boxed up indoors, I’m sure you will agree with me that it makes it ten times worse. Round games perhaps, and that would be like last year when I shall never forgive myself about poor Gerda. I said to Henry afterwards it was most thoughtless of me – and one has to have her, of course, because it would be so rude to ask John without her, but it really does make things difficult – and the worst of it is that she is so nice – really it seems odd sometimes that anyone so nice as Gerda is should be so devoid of any kind of intelligence, and if that is what they mean by the law of compensation I don’t really think it is at all fair.”
“What are you talking about, Lucy?”
“The weekend, darling. The people who are coming tomorrow. I have been thinking about it all night and I have been dreadfully bothered about it. So it really is a relief to talk it over with you, Midge. You are always so sensible and practical.”
“Lucy,” said Midge sternly, “do you know what time it is?”
“Not exactly, darling. I never do, you know.”
“It’s quarter past six.”
“Yes, dear,” said Lady Angkatell, with no signs of contrition.
Midge gazed sternly at her. How maddening, how absolutely impossible Lucy was! Really, thought Midge. I don’t know why we put up with her!
Yet, even as she voiced the thought to herself, she was aware of the answer. Lucy Angkatell was smiling, and as Midge looked at her, she felt the extraordinary pervasive charm that Lucy had wielded all her life and that even now, at over sixty, had not failed her. Because of it, people all over the world, foreign potentates, A.D.Cs, Government officials, had endured inconvenience, annoyance and bewilderment. It was the childlike pleasure and delight in her own doing that disarmed and nullified criticism. Lucy had but to open those wide blue eyes and stretch out those fragile hands, and murmur. “Oh! but I’m so sorry…” and resentment immediately vanished.
“Darling,” said Lady Angkatell, “I’m so sorry. You should have told me!”
“I’m telling you now – but it’s too late! I’m thoroughly awake.”
“What a shame. But you will help me, won’t you?”
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