Tuppence, walking along the garden path, was accosted1 by Albert comingdown at a quick pace from the house.
‘Lady waiting to see you,’ he said.
‘Lady? Oh, who is it?’
‘Miss Mullins, she says she is. Recommended by one of the ladies in thevillage to call on you.’
‘Oh, of course,’ said Tuppence. ‘About the garden, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, she said something about the garden.’
‘I think you’d better bring her out here,’ said Tuppence.
‘Yes, madam,’ said Albert, falling into his role of experienced butler.
He went back to the house and returned a few moments later bringingwith him a tall masculine-looking woman in tweed trousers and a Fair Islepullover.
‘Chilly wind this morning,’ she said.
Her voice was deep and slightly hoarse2.
‘I’m Iris3 Mullins. Mrs Griffin suggested I should come along and see you.
Wanting some help in the garden. Is that it?’
‘Good morning,’ said Tuppence, shaking hands. ‘I’m very pleased to seeyou. Yes, we do want some help in the garden.’
‘Only just moved in, haven’t you?’
‘Well, it feels almost like years,’ said Tuppence, ‘because we’ve only justgot all the workmen out.’
‘Ah yes,’ said Miss Mullins, giving a deep hoarse chuckle4. ‘Know what itis to have workmen in the house. But you’re quite right to come in your-self and not leave it to them. Nothing gets finished until the owner’smoved in and even then you usually have to get them back again to finishsomething they’ve forgotten about. Nice garden you’ve got here but it’sbeen let go a bit, hasn’t it?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid the last people who lived here didn’t care much abouthow the garden looked.’
‘People called Jones or something like that, weren’t they? Don’t think Iactually know them. Most of my time here, you know, I’ve lived on theother side, the moor5 side, of the town. Two houses there I go to regularly.
One, two days a week and the other one, one day. Actually, one day isn’tenough, not to keep it right. You had old Isaac working here, didn’t you?
Nice old boy. Sad he had to get himself done in by some of this violentguerrilla material that’s always going about bashing someone. The inquestwas about a week ago, wasn’t it? I hear they haven’t found out who did ityet. Go about in little groups they do, and mug people. Nasty6 lot. Very of-ten the younger they are, the nastier7 they are. That’s a nice magnoliayou’ve got there. Soulangeana, isn’t it? Much the best to have. People al-ways want the more exotic8 kinds but it’s better to stick to old friends whenit’s magnolias in my opinion.’
‘It’s really been more the vegetables that we’re thinking about.’
‘Yes, you want to build up a good working kitchen garden, don’t you?
There doesn’t seem to have been much attention paid before. People losetheir spirit and think it’s better really to buy their vegetables, and not tryand grow them.’
‘I’d always want to grow new potatoes and peas,’ said Tuppence, ‘and Ithink French beans too, because you then can have them all young.’
‘That’s right. You might as well add runner beans. Most gardeners are soproud of their runner beans that they like them a foot and a half in length.
They think that’s a fine bean. Always takes a prize at a local show. Butyou’re quite right, you know. Young vegetables are the things that youreally enjoy eating.’
Albert appeared suddenly.
‘Mrs Redcliffe on the telephone, madam,’ he said. ‘Wanted to know ifyou could lunch tomorrow.’
‘Tell her I’m very sorry,’ said Tuppence. ‘I’m afraid we may have to go toLondon tomorrow. Oh– wait a minute, Albert. Just wait while I write aword or two.’
She pulled out a small pad from her bag, wrote a few words on it andhanded it to Albert.
‘Tell Mr Beresford,’ she said. ‘Tell him Miss Mullins is here and we’re inthe garden. I forgot to do what he asked me to do, give him the name andaddress of the person he is writing to. I’ve written it here–’
‘Certainly, madam,’ said Albert, and disappeared.
Tuppence returned to the vegetable conversation.
‘I expect you’re very busy,’ she said, ‘as you are working three daysalready.’
‘Yes, and as I said it’s rather the other side of the town. I live the otherside of town. I’ve got a small cottage there.’
At that moment Tommy arrived from the house. Hannibal was withhim, running round in large circles. Hannibal reached Tuppence first. Hestopped still for a moment, spread out his paws, and then rushed at MissMullins with a fierce array9 of barking. She took a step or two back in somealarm.
‘This is our terrible dog,’ said Tuppence. ‘He doesn’t really bite, youknow. At least very seldom. It’s usually only the postman he likes to bite.’
‘All dogs bite postmen, or try to,’ said Miss Mullins.
‘He’s a very good guard dog,’ said Tuppence. ‘He’s a Manchester Terrier,you know, and they are good guard dogs. He protects the house in a won-derful way. He won’t let anyone near it or come inside and he looks afterme very carefully. He evidently regards me as his principal charge in life.’
‘Oh well, of course I suppose it’s a good thing nowadays.’
‘I know. There are so many robberies about,’ said Tuppence. ‘Lots of ourfriends, you know, have had burglars10. Some even who come in in broaddaylight in the most extraordinary way. They set up ladders and take win-dow-sashes out or pretend to be window-cleaners–oh, up to all kinds oftricks. So it’s a good thing to let it be known that there’s a fierce dog in thehouse, I think.’
‘I think perhaps you’re quite right.’
‘Here is my husband,’ said Tuppence. ‘This is Miss Mullins, Tommy. MrsGriffin very kindly11 told her that we wanted someone who could possiblydo some gardening for us.’
‘Would this be too heavy work for you perhaps, Miss Mullins?’
‘Of course not,’ said Miss Mullins in her deep voice. ‘Oh, I can dig withanyone. You’ve got to dig the right way. It’s not only trenching the sweetpeas, it’s everything needs digging, needs manuring. The ground’s got tobe prepared. Makes all the difference.’
Hannibal continued to bark.
‘I think, Tommy,’ said Tuppence, ‘you’d really better take Hannibal backto the house. He seems to be in rather a protective mood this morning.’
‘All right,’ said Tommy.
‘Won’t you come back to the house,’ said Tuppence to Miss Mullins, ‘andhave something to drink? It’s rather a hot morning and I think it would bea good thing, don’t you? And we can discuss plans together perhaps.’
Hannibal was shut into the kitchen and Miss Mullins accepted a glass ofsherry. A few suggestions were made, then Miss Mullins looked at herwatch and said she must hurry back.
‘I have an appointment,’ she explained. ‘I mustn’t be late.’ She badethem a somewhat hurried farewell and departed.
‘She seems all right,’ said Tuppence.
‘I know,’ said Tommy–‘But one can’t ever be sure–’
‘One could ask questions?’ said Tuppence doubtfully.
‘You must be tired going all round the garden. We must leave our exped
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1
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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2
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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3
iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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6
nasty
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| adj.令人讨厌的，困难的，恶劣的，下流的 | |
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nastier
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| adj.下流的( nasty的比较级 )；严重的；恶意的；令人讨厌的 | |
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8
exotic
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| adj.奇异的，异乎寻常的，外（国）来的，外国产 | |
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9
array
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| n.展示，排列，盛装；vt.排列，打扮 | |
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10
burglars
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| 窃贼( burglar的名词复数 )； 破门盗窃者； 破门盗贼； 小偷 | |
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11
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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