Chapter 7 Seven visits to the nanny

Mrs. Olivier looked hesitantly at the front door and three steps of the dilapidated cottage on the roadside. There were bulbous plants, mostly tulips, planted under the windows. She stopped to look at the address book in her hand, and she was sure that this was the destination.She pressed what looked like an electric bell, but no sound was heard in the room; she knocked lightly on the door knocker again, but there was still no response.She knocked again, and this time there was a shuffling of footsteps in the room, followed by heavy breathing and the sound of a hand reaching for the door.The noise echoed vaguely through the letterbox.

Oh shit, stuck again, damn it! Following a commotion inside the door, the door was finally slowly opened with a creaking sound.A wrinkled, stooped, hobbled old woman stared at her.The old woman's displeasure, not fear, but distaste for those who would try to knock down an old English woman's fortress.She should be seventy or eighty years old, but she is still the defender of this house. I don't know what you come for, and the woman stops: Oh, it's Miss Arendon, I didn't know it was you, Miss Arendon! How nice of you to remember me.Mrs Olivier said: How are you, Mrs Marcie?

Miss Aridan!It's incredible. It had been many years since she had been called Miss Aridan, thought Mrs. Olivier, and although the old woman's voice was old and hoarse, her tone was still so familiar. Come on in, honey.The old woman said: Come in, you look good.I can't remember how many years I haven't seen you, at least fifteen years. In fact, it was far more than fifteen years, but Mrs. Olivier did not correct her.When she entered the house, Mrs. Marcy's hands didn't seem to be in control. She closed the door with shaking hands and struggled, and shuffled into a small room, which was obviously where Mrs. Marcie received guests.There were many photographs, of babies and adults, some in good leather frames that had dried but hadn't splintered.Among them was a dull silver framed picture of a young woman in court dress with feathers floating from her head.There were pictures of two naval officers, two army officers, and a naked baby crawling on a blanket.There was a sofa and two chairs in the room. Mrs. Olivier sat down on the chair obediently, and Mrs. Marcy sat on the sofa, with some difficulty, she took a cushion and stuffed it behind her.

Nice to meet you dear, are you still writing those lovely stories? Yes. Mrs. Olivier was a little confused about how detective novels and crime stories could be called lovely stories, but she remembered that this was just Mrs. Marcie's habit. Ask the elephant to go! I live alone now, Mrs Marcy said: Do you remember my sister Gracie?She died last fall of cancer.They operated on her, but it was too late. Oh my God, what a pity.said Mrs Olivier. They chatted for another ten minutes, counting the deaths of Mrs. Marcie's relatives. Are you doing well?Everything all right?Are you married?Oh, I remembered, your husband passed away a few years ago, right?What brought you to the little town of Soden Minor?

I just happened to pass by, and Mrs. Olivia said: I saw your address in the address book again, so I came to see how you are. Ah, by the way, talk about the past too!It's always nice to mention the past, isn't it? Yes, indeed. Mrs. Marcie first brought up this topic and stated her purpose, which relieved Mrs. Olivia. You have so many photos! Oh yes, those.You know, I lived in a nursing home for a year and three months, and I couldn't take it anymore.That place has a stupid name, it's called Happy Sunset Nursing Home, that's what it seems.Those people are disgusting. They can't even tell us to keep personal things and have to go to the nursing home.I'm not saying it's uncomfortable, but you know I like having my stuff around, like pictures, and my belongings.Later, a kind lady from some social organization told me that there is another place where the house is your own, you can bring your favorite things, and there are kind people come to see how you are doing every day.Ah, but I'm comfortable here, very comfortable, all my things are here.

These come from all directions, right?Mrs. Olivia looked around and asked. Yes.That table, the brass one, was brought to me by Captain Wilson from Singapore or something.And that Benares brass, isn't it great?Very fun ashtray.That's from Egypt called dung beetle or something, sounds like some kind of allergic skin disease, but it's not, it's a kind of beetle, made of some kind of stone, they call it a gemstone, very bright Blue, called Qingji Qingji, or Qingjing or something. It is lapis lazuli.said Mrs Olivier. Yes, that’s the name, it’s very beautiful, it was dug up by the archaeologist and given to me.

All your sweet memories.Mrs. Olivia said. Yeah, these are pictures of boys and girls, some from when they were babies, some from when they were full moon or older, and some from my trip to India and one to Siam.Oh, that's Miss Moya in her court dress, she's beautiful and divorced twice.The first time it was because her husband was very domineering, and later she married a singer. Of course, this kind of marriage will not last long.She later married again in California, and they had a yacht to travel around.Died two or three years ago, only sixty-two years old, what a pity to die so young.

You have been to many places yourself, right?Mrs. Olivier said: Been to India, Hong Kong, Egypt, South Africa, right? Well, I have been to some places. Remember when I was in Peninsular Malaysia, you lived in a military family, right?Mrs. Olivier said: What general, wait, I remember General Ravenk, right? No, no, no, you got the name wrong, I was at the Barnabys when you said that.You used to live in their house, remember?You're traveling and staying at the Barnaby's.You and Mrs. Barnaby are old friends, and her husband is a judge. oh yes.Mrs Olivier said: "It's a bit of a hassle, I keep getting names mixed up.

They have two lovely children, Mrs. Macy said: Of course both children go back to England to study, the son reads Harrow (a boys' school located in north London, established in the sixteenth century), and the daughter reads Rodion (Thessak private girls' school in the county), I think so.Then I moved to another house.Ah, it's different now, there are even fewer maids.Tell you, the maids are always in trouble, and I get on well with the maids at the Barnabys.Who did you just talk about?Ravenk?Oh, I remember them, but I forgot where they lived, not far from here.Everyone knows them, yes, it was many years ago, but I still remember.I was still living with the Barnabys at the time, and after the kids had gone to school, I stayed on to take care of Mrs. Barnaby, actually to work on her things, tinkering.Oh, it wasn't Barnaby that I was there when that dreadful thing happened, it was what happened to the Ravenkers.I'll never forget how I felt when I heard the news, of course it had nothing to do with me, but it's unfortunate that it happened, isn't it?

indeed so.said Mrs Olivier. That happened after you got back to England, I think long after you got back.Their husband and wife are very nice, very nice, everyone was taken aback. I can't remember anything.said Mrs Olivier. I know people forget things, but I don't.It is said that she has always been weird, since she was a child.It was said before that she had taken the baby out of the cradle and thrown it into the river, they said it was jealousy, and others said she wanted the baby to go straight to heaven so as not to have to wait. Are you, you mean Mrs. Ravenk? No, of course not.Ah, you don't have such a good memory as I do, I mean her sister.

Madame's sister? Now I am not sure whether it is the general's sister or the wife's sister.It is said that she lived in a mental hospital for a long time, since she was around eleven or twelve years old.She stayed in the psychiatric hospital and later heard that she was discharged from rehabilitation and married a soldier.Then there was trouble again and she was taken back again.They treat their patients well, they have a complete set of furniture, and the rooms are great.They used to see her too, I mean the general and his wife.Her children were brought up by others, for fear that they would resemble their mothers.However, they said she recovered from her illness, so she came back to live with her husband, and then her husband died, I think it was high blood pressure or a heart attack.In short, this elder sister was very depressed, and later moved to live with her younger brother or younger sister. It seemed that she lived happily and loved the child very much.I don't think it was the boy, he was at school, it was the girl, and there was another little girl playing with her that afternoon.Oh, I can't remember the details, it's been too long.There were a lot of rumors, some people said that she didn't do it at all, it was the nanny, but the nanny liked them very much, so she was very upset.She wanted to take them away, saying they weren't safe there etc.Of course, other people would not believe her words, and it happened.I guess they must have thought it was her what was her name, I don't remember.Anyway, that's it. What happened to this sister? Well, she was taken away by the doctor, sent somewhere, and finally returned to England.Don't know if she went back to the original hospital, but she was well taken care of.Anyway, there is a lot of money, as you know, her husband's family is very rich.Maybe she got better afterward, but, well, if you don't ask, I haven't thought about it for years.I don't know where they are now, they must have retired a long time ago. Well, things are sad.Mrs. Olivia said: Have you read the report? What report? Well, they bought a house in England, and later Ah, I remembered. I remember reading it in the newspaper. That’s right. At that time, I only thought the name Ravenk was very familiar, but I don’t remember where I got the impression.They fell off a cliff, didn't they? Well, almost.said Mrs Olivier. Nice to meet you dear, you must have a cup of tea with me. No, said Mrs. Olivier: no, really no. Of course, if you don't mind, how about going to the kitchen?I stay there almost all day, it's more convenient to move around, but when guests come, I take it to this room, because I have these things to boast about, and I am very proud of having these things, and these children. I think, Mrs. Olivier said, it must have been a good time when you took care of the children. Yes, I remember when you were a little girl, you loved listening to my stories.A story of a tiger, and a story of a monkey, a monkey in a tree. Yes, said Mrs. Olivier: I remember, it was a long time ago. Mrs. Olivier's thoughts drifted back to the past. When she was six or seven years old, she was wearing a pair of tight buckled boots and walking on the paths in England, listening to the accompanying nanny telling stories about India and Egypt. Mrs. Marcy was that babysitter.When leaving the living room, Mrs. Olivia looked around again, looking at the pictures of girls, boys and many middle-aged people.They sent them in their best clothes and frames when they were photographed, because they hadn't forgotten her.Perhaps with their financial support, her old age can be regarded as passable.Madame Olivier suddenly wanted to cry, but she restrained herself with a paradoxical force of will.She followed Mrs. Marcie into the kitchen and presented the presents she had brought. Oh, I didn't expect it, this can is the top-quality Tassam tea. I have always liked this kind of tea. I didn't expect you to remember that this kind of tea is not easy to buy now. This is also my favorite tea.You have a really good memory, what do they call you?Those two little boys who used to play with you?One will call you Miss Elephant, and the other will call you Miss Swan.The boy who calls you Miss Elephant often rides on your back, and you just lie on the ground and carry him around, and you have to free up your hands to pretend to be an elephant's trunk to roll things. Don't you ever forget things, Nanny? Ah, Mrs. Marcie said: an elephant never forgets, it's an old saying.