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Updated: June 11, 2025
They had come to a circular stone seat which was much older even than this old garden, and Miss Pendarth motioned her visitor to sit down. "It isn't a new thing with Timmy," she said. "As a matter of fact, even before you left Beechfield, Dr. O'Farrell regarded the child as being in some way abnormal." "D'you mean while he was still a baby?" asked Radmore.
Then she made a determined effort over herself, ashamed of her own emotion. Still neither hostess nor guest was sorry when there came a knock at the door, followed a moment later by the entry into the room of a stranger who was announced by the maid as "Miss Pendarth."
Neither of them noticed that Timmy had crept up quite close and was listening eagerly. In a village community the gossip holds a place apart, and Olivia Pendarth, though by no means popular with the young people of Old Place, nevertheless had her value as the source of many thrilling tales. Janet Tosswill hesitated. "I wish I could come back with you," she said at last, regretfully.
"But I promised to go straight home this morning." She debated within herself whether she should say anything here and now about Dolly's engagement; then she made up her mind not to do so yet. Miss Pendarth, slightly lowering her voice, went on: "Perhaps I might come in this afternoon, and bring what I want to show you with me? It's a full report of the inquest held on Colonel Crofton."
One of the strange things about this war has been the way in which those who could have been best spared, escaped." In spite of herself, Betty smiled again. "Godfrey has come back to England for good," she said quietly, "he's coming to-day for a long week-end." "D'you mean," asked Miss Pendarth, "that he's coming to stay with this Mrs. Crofton at The Trellis House?" "Oh, no!" exclaimed Betty.
In every civilised country a village is the world in little, though it is always surprising to the student of human nature to find how many distinct types are gathered within its narrow bounds. And if this is true of village communities all over Europe, it is peculiarly true of an English village. Miss Pendarth was a clever woman.
"He's never any occasion to be jealous," she said shortly. "Betty and Janet both worship him, and so does his old nurse. I don't think he cares for anyone else in the world excepting these three. Perhaps I ought to make an exception in your favour from what I'm told he cherishes a romantic affection for you." Miss Pendarth went on: "Mind you I think there's often a touch of malice about the boy!
He takes Timmy off our hands " " And he's so much at The Trellis House. I hear he dined there last night." "Yes, with Rosamund," answered Janet shortly. Miss Pendarth accompanied her visitor down and out to the wrought-iron gate. There the two lingered for a moment, and than Janet Tosswill received one of the real surprises of her life. "Colonel Crofton and I were once engaged.
She knew the knock and ring of each of her neighbours, and this was none of them. Her maid hurried out of the kitchen, and a moment later she heard a man's voice exclaim: "Will you kindly give this note to Miss Pendarth? I will return for the answer in about an hour." Miss Pendarth knew the voice, and, stepping out of her morning room, she called out: "Come in just for a few minutes, Mr. Radmore."
To them she was a good, firm, faithful friend, seeing them through their many small and great troubles, and taking real pains to help their sons and daughters to make good starts in life. Many a village mother had asked Miss Pendarth to "speak" to her naughty girl or headstrong son, and as she was quite fearless, her words often had a surprising effect.
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