Read The Shadow of the Lynx for Free Online Page A

repeated.
    “Oddly enough,” I said, trying to bring some normality into the scene, ‘it blew from my neck over your wall. “
    They still looked startled but they couldn’t deny it because there was the scarf. Stirling picked it up and gave it to me; and as he did so he said: “What have you done to your hand?”
    “Oh dear,” said the girl, ‘it’s bleeding. “
    “I grazed it against a tree when I was trying to catch my scarf,” I stammered. Stirling was looking at me with amusement and I thought for a moment that he was going to tell them I had climbed a tree to look at them.
    The girl appeared concerned. She had a sweet expression.
    “Are you staying here?” asked the one named Lucie.
    “I feel sure you don’t live here or we should know.”
    “We’re at the Falcon Inn,” I said.
    “Nora,” cut in Stirling quickly, ‘you are feeling faint. ” He turned to the girl.
    “Perhaps she should sit down for a moment.”
    “Certainly,” said the girl.
    “Certainly. Your hand should be attended to. Lucie could bandage it for you, couldn’t you, Lucie?”
    “But of course,” said Lucie meekly.
    “You should take her into the house and bathe it. Take her to Mrs. Glee’s room. She is certain to have water on the boil, and I do think it should be washed.”
    “Come with me,” said Lucie. I wanted to protest because I was interested in the girl and would have preferred to stay and talk with her.
    Stirling had sat down and was being offered a cup of tea.
    I followed Lucie across the lawn towards the house. We went through a heavy iron studded door and were in a stone walled corridor. Facing us was a flight of stairs.
    Lucie led the way up these stairs to a landing.
    “The housekeeper’s room is along here. This corridor leads to the servants’ hall.”
    We went up a spiral staircase to a landing on which there were several doors. Lucie knocked at one of them and we were told to enter. On a spirit stove was a kettle of hot water, and a middleaged woman in a black bombazine dress with a white cap on her thick greying hair was sitting in an armchair dozing. I guessed this to be Mrs. Glee and I was right. Lucie explained about the scarf and I showed my hand.
     
    “It’s notmng but a light graze,” said Mrs. Uiee.
    “Miss Minta thinks it should be washed and dressed.”
    Mrs. Glee grunted.
    “Miss Minta and her bandages! There’s always something. Last week it was that bird. Couldn’t fly so Miss Minta took charge. Then there was that dog which was caught in a trap.”
    I didn’t much care to be compared with a bird and a dog, so I said:
    “Really there’s no need.” But Mrs. Glee ignored me and poured some water from the kettle into a basin. My hand was deftly washed and bandaged while I told them we were staying at the Falcon Inn and shortly leaving for Australia. When this was done I thanked Mrs. Glee and Lucie conducted me back to the lawn. I apologized as we went. I was afraid I was being rather a trouble, I said. It was no trouble, she informed me in such a way as to suggest in fact it was; but perhaps that was her manner.
    “Miss Minta is very kindhearted,” I said.
    “Very,” she agreed.
    There were many questions I should have liked to ask but that would have been difficult even if she were communicative which she decidedly was not.
    On the lawn Stirling was talking to Minta, and Lady Cardew was looking on languidly. I felt irritated by his complacent manner. It was due to me that we were here and he was getting the best of the adventure. I wondered what they had been talking about while I was away.
    “You must have a cup of tea before you go,” said Minta, and as she poured the tea and brought it to me I was again struck by her grace—and kindness too. She really did seem concerned.
    “Miss Cardew was telling me about the house,” said Stirling.
    “It’s the finest I ever saw.”
    “And the most ancient,” laughed Minta.
    “He tells me he has recently come from Australia