Throughout the day, she kept thinking about the monastery and its strange occupants. The skiing incident of the previous afternoon had convinced her that Winkey at least was cruel and dishonest. As to Father Benedict’s character, she could not make up her mind.
“Possibly he doesn’t know how surly and mean his servant acts,” she thought. “Someone ought to tell him!”
Penny longed to return to the monastery, but hesitated to go there for the deliberate purpose of reporting Winkey’s misbehavior.
“Mr. Ayling may return here tomorrow,” she told herself. “Then perhaps we can drive out there together.”
However, a check of the Riverview Hotel the following morning, disclosed that the investigator still had not arrived in the city.
Decidedly mystified by his failure to return, Penny clomped into the Parker kitchen after having spent an hour downtown. To her surprise she saw that during her absence a bulky package had been delivered.
“It came for you a half hour ago,” Mrs. Weems explained.
“For me! Must be a mistake. I’ve ordered nothing from any store.”
Plainly the package bore her name, so she tore off the heavy wrappings. Inside was a pair of new hickory skis.
“Dad must have sent them!” she exclaimed. “Just what I need.”