On this particular afternoon he left three letters at Little Paddocks at exactly ten minutes to five. One was addressed to Phillipa Haymes in a schoolboy’s hand; the other two were for Miss Blacklock. She opened them as she and Phillipa sat down at the tea table. The torrential rain had enabled Phillipa to leave Dayas Hall early today, since once she had shut up the greenhouses there was nothing more to do. Miss Blacklock tore open her first letter which was a bill for repairing a kitchen boiler. She snorted angrily. “Dymond’s prices are preposterous—quite preposterous. Still, I suppose all the other people are just as bad.” She opened the second letter which was in a handwriting quite unknown to her. Dear Cousin Letty (it said), I hope it will be all right for me to come to you on Tuesday? I wrote to Patrick two days ago but he hasn’t answered. So I presume it’s all right. Mother is coming to England next month and hopes to see you then. My train arrives at Chipping Cleghorn at 6:15 if that’s convenient?
