Mr. Vincent apparently did not understand the remark, so the girls told him of the mysterious manner in which their luncheon had appeared.
Veve elaborated too upon their meeting with the group of boys who had pelted Mrs. Myles with walnuts.
“Mrs. Myles?” the carpenter repeated in surprise. “Does she come here to the park?”
“We’ve seen her twice,” revealed Rosemary. “Each time she brought her sack with her.”
“She gathers nuts,” contributed Eileen, aware that the conversation interested the carpenter. “We think she has to have them for food.”
“Her house is run down and she’s very poor,” added Veve. “We didn’t see much to eat in the house when we went there looking for buttons.”
“Of course we don’t know how much she had in the cupboards,” Connie said truthfully. “She did have some nice warm bread.”
“The Brownies are judging from superficial evidence,” remarked Miss Gordon. She did not want Mr. Vincent to think that the girls were gossiping about the old lady behind her back.
“Nevertheless, I’m afraid what they say may be true,” declared the carpenter, looking troubled. “Years ago—well, I knew Mrs. Myles very well indeed. She never had much money. I’m alarmed lest she may actually be in need and not let anyone know because of her pride.”
“Doesn’t she have any children to look after her?” inquired Rosemary earnestly.