'I applied the witch hazel,' said Gertrude. 'I have two hands. She came in with the botde and the cotton, but she finds it very difficult to manage. So often other people have to do the simplest things for Isabel.'
Duff said, 'Miss Gerttude, I am afraid I am being utterly stupid, but I seem to have quite lost the thread of what you are saying. Your sister had hurt herself?'
'Yes, days ago.'
'I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I see now. Your sister came to you for help. Of course. And you very kindly did help her. You dabbed the witch hazel on her arm.'
'It was not her arm,' said Gertrude severely. 'Really, Mr. Duff . . .'
'Forgive me,' said Duff quickly. 'I am struggling with a reversal of feeling. You see, I had been thinking of your sister taking care of you. I find, instead, that you, in the goodness of your heart and the fortitude of your spirit, are, instead, the one to whom she appeals.'
Gertrude never winced, though Alice did. It was so sticky and so thick. Gertrude said, 'It was nothing.' But she didn't mean it
Duff bit his lip and cast a look at Alice. 'Another question,' he said humbly. 'When you were out of doors, just before Mr. Whitlock and Miss Brennan and the chauffeur set forth in the car, do you remember ... ?'
'Yes,' said Gertrude. 'I had stepped out for a breath of air.'
'You heard no stranger?'
'No,' she said, puzzled. 'Why?'
'Perhaps there was no stranger,' said Duff soothingly. 'Your brother is unwell and nervous, of course.' He rose. 'I hope,' he said, 'that I may come in and chat with you another time.'
'Please do,' said Gertrude cordially.
Duff drifted across to the table where the weaving lay. 'You are doing some charming work,' he said.
'My weaving?'
'Yes. Lovely.'
'K you will hand it to me, Alice dear, perhaps I shall do a litde now.'
Alice gave her the frame and the wool. They went away, leaving Gertrude upright in the rocker, her thin hands busy with the work, the very portrait of saintly patience.
Duff said, 'Well? The sleeves?'
'They were all right,' said Alice.
'None recently washed?'
'They were all silk. And not wrinkled. And pretty clean.'
'The only hope was that she might have stained her sleeve and not known it.'
'It's no help, though, is it?'
'Is she blind, Alice?'
'There's only one thing,' said Alice slowly.
'Yes?'
'Those playing cards.'
'I managed to look. They are special cards with tiny raised dots in the comers. For the blind.'
'Oh. Well, what about the flowers?'
'Narcissus,' said Duff. 'Very fragrant'
Alice sighed. 'And the mirror?'
'There's always a mirror.'
'Then you think she's blind?'
'It does seem so,' said Duff. 'That's a monstrous woman, Alice.'
They were m the hall, and Art Killeen came down the stairs.
'I'm off to the post office,' he said.
'With the new will?'
'Yes. Innes wants it safely away. He is going to announce what he's done, as soon as it's safe with Uncle Sam.'
'I see,' said Duff.
'Want to help me find the post office, Alice?'
'I can't,' she said. 'Mr. Duff and I . . .'
'I'd like to talk to you,' said Art Killeen wistfully. 'For just a minute. Do you mind if I keep her just a minute, Mr. Duff?'
Duff drifted down the hall as if something were drawing him toward the kitchen.
