The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

In outward seeming they were as the lilies that

toiled not, neither did they spin. But perhaps this

was not quite true. There are divers ways of toiling

and also of spinning.

"Here's the kid back again," said Evan Llewellyn

to Mrs. Rustington.

He was a dark young man--there was a faintly

6

Agatha Christie

hungry wolfish look about him which some women

found attractive.

It was difficult to say whether Mrs. Rustington

found him so. She did not wear her heart on her

sleeve. She had married young--and the marriage

had ended in disaster in less than a year. Since that

time it was difficult to know what Janet Rusting-ton

thought of anyone or anything--her manner

was always the same--charming but completely

aloof.

Eve Leathern came dancing up to them, her

lank fair hair bobbing excitedly. She was fifteen--an

awkward child--but full of vitality.

"I'm going to be married by the time I'm seventeen,"

she exclaimed breathlessly. "To a very rich

man and we're going to have six children and

Tuesdays and Thursdays are my lucky days and I

ought always to wear green or blue and an emerald

is my lucky stone and--"

"Why, pet, I think we ought to be getting

along," said her father.