Chapter 2 Research by Tuppence

‘I hope,’ said Tuppence, ‘that I’m not interrupting you, coming along likethis? I thought I’d better ring up first in case you were out, you know, orbusy. But, I mean, it’s nothing particular so I could go away again at onceif you liked. I mean, my feelings wouldn’t be hurt or anything like that.’
‘Oh, I’m delighted to see you, Mrs Beresford,’ said Mrs Griffin.
She moved herself three inches along her chair so as to settle her backmore comfortably and looked with what seemed to be distinct pleasureinto Tuppence’s somewhat anxious face.
‘It’s a great pleasure, you know, when somebody new comes and lives inthis place. We’re so used to all our neighbours that a new face, or if I maysay so a couple of new faces, is a treat. An absolute treat! I hope indeedthat you’ll both come to dinner one day. I don’t know what time your hus-band gets back. He goes to London, does he not, most days?’
‘Yes,’ said Tuppence. ‘That’s very nice of you. I hope you’ll come and seeour house when it’s more or less finished. I’m always thinking it’s going tobe finished but it never is.’
‘Houses are rather like that,’ said Mrs Griffin.
Mrs Griffin, as Tuppence knew very well from her various sources of in-formation which consisted of daily women, old Isaac, Gwenda in the postoffice and sundry¹ others, was ninety-four. The upright position which sheenjoyed arranging because it took the rheumatic pains out of her back, to-gether with her erect² carriage, gave her the air of someone much younger.
In spite of the wrinkled face, the head of uprising white hair surmountedby a lace scarf tied round her head reminded Tuppence faintly of a coupleof her great- aunts in past days. She wore bifocal spectacles and had ahearing aid which she sometimes, but very seldom as far as Tuppencecould see, had to use. And she looked thoroughly³ alert and perfectly⁴ cap-able of reaching the age of a hundred or even a hundred and ten.
‘What have you been doing with yourself lately?’ enquired⁵ Mrs Griffin. ‘Igather you’ve got the electricians out of the house now. So Dorothy toldme. Mrs Rogers, you know. She used to be my housemaid once and shecomes now and cleans twice a week.’

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