Chapter 7 7 Invitation

Miss Marple decided not to take part in the afternoon excursion.She said she was a little tired, so she stopped looking at the old church with its fourteenth-century stained-glass windows.She planned to rest for a while and meet everyone at the agreed teahouse on the street later.Mrs. Sanborn thought her arrangement was reasonable. Miss Marple sat on a comfortable bench outside the teahouse, wondering what to do next, and whether it would be wise to do so. At tea time, when everyone was back, she approached Miss Cook and Miss Barrow in silence, and sat down with them at a table for four.Mr. Casper took the fourth chair.Miss Marple thinks that his English is not good enough and that he won't get in the way.

Miss Marple, leaning forward as she chewed the Swiss roll, said to Miss Cook across the table: I believe we have met before.I thought and thought.I don't remember faces any better than I used to, but I'm sure I must have seen you somewhere. Miss Cook's face was friendly but hesitant, and her eyes wandered to her friend Miss Barrow.Miss Marple looked after her.And Miss Barrow clearly had no intention of helping to solve the mystery. I don't know if you've been in my neighborhood, continued Miss Marple.I live in St. Mary Mead, you know, a small village.But now it is not too small, and houses are being built everywhere.It was not far from Muchbanham, and only twelve miles from Leomouth Beach.

Oh, said Miss Cook.Let me think about it.Well, I know Lewmouth well, maybe Miss Marple suddenly exclaimed happily: Ah, thought of it!I was in my garden at St Mary Mead one day and you walked down the path and spoke to me.I remember you said you were staying there temporarily, at a friend's house That's right, said Miss Cook.I am a fool.Now I remember.At that time we were talking about how hard it was to find someone useful—I mean gardening. That's right.You don't live there all the time, do you?You just hang out with someone for a while. Yes, I am and, and Miss Cook was speechless for a moment, as if she didn't know or remember a name.

And a Mrs. Sutherland, eh?Miss Marple reminded. no no no uh Mrs. Hastings, Miss Barrow took a piece of chocolate cake and said with certainty. Oh, yes, the occupants of a new house, said Miss Marple. Hastings, Mr. Casper cut in.He smiled and said: I have been to Hastings and I have been to Istanbul.He smiled again.It's beautiful, by the sea. What a coincidence, said Miss Marple.We meet again so soon.It's a small world, don't you think? Oh well, we all like to visit gardens, said Miss Cook vaguely. The flowers are very pretty, Mr. Casper said.I like how he smiles again. So many rare and beautiful shrubs, said Miss Cook.

Miss Marple talked about gardening like a barrage, occasionally interspersed with technical language, and Miss Cook responded to each one, and Miss Barrow occasionally interjected a few words.Mr. Casper continued to sit in silence, smiling. Miss Marple took a break before dinner as usual, and wrote down the information she had collected.Miss Cook admitted that she had lived in St. Mary Mead, had walked past Miss Marple's house, and agreed that it was a coincidence.Is it a coincidence?Miss Marple pondered, chewing the word "coincidence" over and over in her mouth, like a child trying to taste a lollipop in its mouth.Is this a coincidence?Or did she go to St. Mary Mead for something else?Was she sent by someone?Why was he sent there?Isn't it ridiculous for her to imagine so wildly?

Any coincidence, Miss Marple said to herself.All worth noting.If you find out later that it was really just a coincidence, it's not too late to throw it away. Miss Cook and Miss Barrow appeared to be quite ordinary friends.They said that the two would travel hand in hand every year.They went to Greece for a sea tour last year, went to Holland to enjoy flowers the year before, and went to Northern Ireland the year before. They are two very kind and ordinary people.But she felt that for a moment Miss Cook wanted to deny that she had been to St. Mary Mead.Her eyes looked at her friend Miss Barrow, as if expecting instructions before answering.Presumably she was the only one to follow Miss Barrow's lead.

Of course, all this may be my imagination, thought Miss Marple.Maybe they don't matter at all. The word danger jumped into her mind suddenly.Mr. Rafael had used that word in his first letter, and in his second he had mentioned that she needed a Patronus.Will she run into danger on this mission?Why?Who would put her in danger? Obviously not Miss Cooke and Miss Barrow.Those two looked so ordinary. After all, Miss Cook not only dyed her hair, but also changed her hairstyle.The fact that she's trying so hard to disguise her appearance is weird to say the least!She thought again about her traveling companion.

It was easier for Mr. Casper to imagine him as a dangerous man now.Is he actually good at English, just pretending not to know much?She became suspicious of Mr. Casper. Miss Marple had never been able to see foreigners from a Victorian point of view.You can never see through foreigners.Of course, this kind of thinking is actually very absurd, and she herself has many friends from different countries.Miss Cook.Miss Barrow.Mr Casper.That young man with disheveled hair is called Emlyn or something. He is a reformer. Could it be that he is an anarchist with swords and feet?The Butlers, such amiable and nice people, but aren't they too good to be true?

Indeed, said Miss Marple.I must cheer up. She turned her attention to her travel schedule.Tomorrow, she thought, would be a difficult day.It must be very tiring to take a car tour early in the morning and walk along the coastal path in the afternoon, which is very exhausting. It must be tiring to watch some interesting marine plants.There is a thoughtful suggestion at the back: those who want to rest can stay in the hotel. This hotel called Fort Gordon also has a beautiful garden.In addition, you can also take a short trip to the nearby scenic spot, and it only takes an hour to go back and forth.She thought, she might as well just do it.

But she didn't know at this time that her plan was about to change. The next day, when Miss Marple came downstairs to prepare lunch after freshening up in her room at the Fort Golden Hotel, a woman in a tweed check dress came up to her timidly.she says: Sorry, you are Miss Marple, Jane.Miss Marple? Yes, I am, replied Miss Marple, a little surprised. I'm Mrs. Green, Lavinia.Green.I live nearby with my two sisters.uh, you know, we heard you were coming You heard I'm coming?Miss Marple was even more surprised. Yes.An old friend wrote to us oh, it's been a long time, it must have been three weeks, and he asked us to mark down the date, which is the date when the Home and Garden Association came to this place.He said he has a good friend or a relative?I'm not so sure about taking this tour.

Miss Marple still looked surprised. I'm talking about Mr. Raphael.said Mrs. Green. Oh, Mr. Raphael!said Miss Marple.do you know him News of his passing?Know, regrettably, not long after his letter arrived.I think he must have died not long after he wrote to us.But we very much want to do as he asks.You know, he said you might like to come and stay with us for a few nights.This part of the tour is strenuous I mean, it's okay for young people, but it's too tiring for older people.It's miles and miles of walking and climbing cliff paths.If you are willing to honor us and live in our house, we sisters will be very happy.My house is only a ten minute walk from the hotel and we are sure to show you many interesting things in the local area. Miss Marple hesitated for a moment.She liked Mrs. Green's appearance: slightly plump, good-natured, friendly, though shy.Is this the next step for her?This must be Mr. Rafael's instruction again.Yes, it must be. She wondered why she felt nervous.Probably because she has become familiar with the traveling companions, and feels that she is already a part of the group, even though they have only known each other for three days. She turned to Mrs. Green, looking at her eagerly. thank you all.You are so kind, I would be more than happy to come and stay with you.