Убийство Роджера Экройда
The Paragraph in the Paper
IfIamtosavehim,Imustknowallthereistoknow–evenifitshouldseemtomakethecaseagainsthimblackerthanbefore.""Howwellyouunderstand,"saidUrsula.
"Soyouwilltellmethewholestory,willyounot?Fromthebeginning.""You’renotgoingtosendmeaway,Ihope,"saidCaroline,settlingherselfcomfortablyinanarm-chair."WhatIwanttoknow,"shecontinued,"iswhythischildwasmasqueradingasaparlourmaid?""Masquerading?"Iqueried.
"That’swhatIsaid.Whydidyoudoit,child?Forawager?""Foraliving,"saidUrsuladrily.
Andencouraged,shebeganthestorywhichIreproducehereinmyownwords.
UrsulaBourne,itseemed,wasoneofafamilyofsevenimpoverishedIrishgentlefolk.Onthedeathofherfather,mostofthegirlswerecastoutintotheworldtoearntheirownliving.Ursula’seldestsisterwasmarriedtoCaptainFolliott.ItwasshewhomIhadseenthatSunday,andthecauseofherembarrassmentwasclearenoughnow.Deteminedtoearnherlivingandnotattractedtotheideaofbeinganurserygoverness–theoneprofessionopentoanuntrainedgirl,Ursulapreferredthejobofparlourmaid.Shescornedtolabelherselfa"ladyparlourmaid."Shewouldbetherealthing,herreferencebeingsuppliedbyhersister.AtFernly,despiteanaloofnesswhich,ashasbeenseen,causedsomecomment,shewasasuccessatherjob–quick,competent,andthorough.
"Ienjoyedthework,"sheexplained.
