Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie Page B

in cruelty for its own sake. But when you have found
     that, there is something deeper still. The desire, profound and pitiful, to be
     appreciated. If that is thwarted, if through an unpleasing personality a human being is
     unable to get the response it needs, it turns to other methods - it must be felt - it must
     count - and so to innumerable strange perversions. The habit of cruelty, like any other
     habit, can be cultivated, can take hold of one - ”
    Mr. Cope coughed. “I think, Dr. Gerard, that you are slightly exaggerating. Really, the
     air up here is too wonderful...” He edged away. Gerard smiled a little. He looked again at
     Sarah. She was frowning - her face was set in a youthful sternness. She looked, he
     thought, like a young judge delivering sentence...
    He turned as Miss Pierce tripped unsteadily towards him.
    “We are going down now,” she fluttered. “Oh, dear! I am sure I shall never manage it, but
     the guide says the way down is quite a different route and much easier. I do hope so,
     because from a child I never have been able to look down from heights...”
    The descent was down the course of a waterfall. Although there were loose stones which
     were a possible source of danger to ankles, it presented no dizzy vistas.
    The party arrived back at the camp weary but in good spirits and with an excellent
     appetite for a late lunch. It was past two o'clock. The Boynton family was sitting around
     the big table in the marquee. They were just finishing their meal.
    Lady Westholme addressed a gracious sentence to them in her most condescending manner.
     “Really a most interesting morning,” she said. “Petra is a wonderful spot.”
    Carol, to whom the words seemed addressed, shot a quick look at her mother, and murmured:
     “Oh, yes - yes, it is,” and relapsed into silence.
    Lady Westholme, feeling she had done her duty, addressed herself to her food. As they ate,
     the four discussed plans for the afternoon.
    “I think I shall rest most of the afternoon,” said Miss Pierce. “It is important, I think,
     not to do too much.”
    “I shall go for a walk and explore,” said Sarah. “What about you Dr. Gerard?”
    “I will go with you.”
    Mrs. Boynton dropped a spoon with a ringing clatter and everyone jumped.
    “I think,” said Lady Westholme, “that I shall follow your example Miss Pierce. Perhaps
     half an hour with a book, then I shall lie down and take an hour's rest at least. After
     that, perhaps, a short stroll.”
    Slowly, with the help of Lennox, old Mrs. Boynton struggled to her feet. She stood for a
     moment and then spoke. “You'd better all go for a walk this afternoon,” she said with
     unexpected amiability.
    It was, perhaps, slightly ludicrous to see the startled faces of her family.
    “But, Mother, what about you?”
    “I don't need any of you. I like sitting alone with my book. Jinny had better not go.
     She'll lie down and have a sleep.”
    “Mother, I'm not tired. I want to go with the others.”
    “You are tired. You've got a headache! You must be careful of yourself. Go and lie down
     and sleep. I know what's best for you.”
    Her head thrown back, the girl stared rebelliously. Then her eyes dropped - faltered...
    “Silly child,” said Mrs. Boynton. “Go to your tent.”
    She stumped out of the marquee - the others followed.
    “Dear me,” said Miss Pierce. “What very peculiar people. Such a very odd color, the
     mother. Quite purple. Heart, I should imagine. This heat must be very trying for her.”
    Sarah thought: “She's letting them go free this afternoon. She knows Raymond wants to be
     with me. Why? Is it a trap?”
    After lunch, when she had gone to her tent and had changed into a fresh linen dress, the
     thought still worried her. Since last night, her feeling towards Raymond had swelled into
     a passion of protective tenderness. This, then, was love, this agony on another's behalf,
     this desire to avert, at all