"Mary Stewart - Wildfire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stewart Mary)

"Oh yes, theтАФwhat's the word?тАФschwarmerinen," said Marcia, in her lovely, carrying voice. "TheyтАФ"
"Marcia, no! You really musn't!"

But the crusading spirit seemed to be unexpectedly strong in Miss Maling. Her fine eyes flashed. "That
child!" she exclaimed. "Nineteen if she's a day, and dragged everywhere by that impossible female with the
mustache! My dear, she bullies her, positively!"

"If she didn't like the female," I said reasonably, "why would she come with her?"

"I told you. They'reтАФ"

"No, Marcia. It's slander, or something. Do remember this is a Scottish fishing hotel, not a theatre cocktail
party."

"I suppose you're right." She sighed. "Actually, they come from the same school, or something. The little
one's just started teaching there, and the other one takes P.K. or R.T. or something. I heard her actually
admitting it."

"Admitting what?" I asked, startled.

"Teaching this R.T. or whatever it is. What is it?"

"Muscular Christianity, I should think."

"Well, there you are," said Marcia gloomily.

"Who else is there? I met a man in the boat coming over from ElgolтАФ"
 "That would be Roderick Grant. He practically lives here, I believe. Tallish, nice-looking, with rather
gorgeous hair?"

"That's the one. Blue eyes."

"And how," said Marcia, with feeling. "He's definitely interesting, that is, if it wasn't forтАФ" She broke off
and drank some gin.

Conscious of a steadily mounting curiosity to see Fergus, I said merely: "I gathered that this Roderick
Grant is a fisherman too."

"What? Oh, yes, they all are," said Marcia bitterly. "But I must say, he's only spasmodic about it. Most of
the time he walks, or something. He's never in the hotel."

"He's a climber,"' I said, amused.

"Probably. There's another climber chap called Beagle."

"Ronald Beagle9"

"I believe so. Another friend of yours?"

"No. I've never met him. but I've heard of him. He's a famous climber."