Landlady

“I’m so glad you appeared,” she said, looking earnestly into his face. “I was beginning to get worried.”

“And what about supper, my dear? Did you manage to get anything to eat before you came here?”

“That’s all right,” Billy answered brightly. “You mustn’t worry about me.” He put his suitcase on the chair and started to open it.

He guessed that she had probably lost a son in the war, or something like that, and had never gotten over it.

“It’s all ready for you, my dear,” she said. She had a round pink face and very gentle blue eyes.

“I saw the notice in the window,” he said, holding himself back.

He pressed the bell—and out she popped! It made him jump.

“I was on my way to The Bell and Dragon,” Billy told her. “But the notice in your window just happened to catch my eye.”

Because she is a creepy old lady.

To see when the poison takes effect.

He reminds her of her son.

She is interested in his story.

Billy Perkins

Billy Weaver

Gregory Temple

Christopher Mulholland

be undecided or uncertain

having a smooth soft surface

the front of a building

greedy

impressively fashionable and elegant

When the landlady offers him tea

When the landlady compliments his appearance

When the landlady says that the two previous guests were still staying at the inn

that both Billy and Mulholland were 17

Mulholland also liked his tea

that she stuffed her pets

appearances versus reality

survival

love

“I’m so glad you appeared,” she said, looking earnestly into his face. “I was beginning to get worried.”

“And what about supper, my dear? Did you manage to get anything to eat before you came here?”

“That’s all right,” Billy answered brightly. “You mustn’t worry about me.” He put his suitcase on the chair and started to open it.

He guessed that she had probably lost a son in the war, or something like that, and had never gotten over it.

“It’s all ready for you, my dear,” she said. She had a round pink face and very gentle blue eyes.

“I saw the notice in the window,” he said, holding himself back.

He pressed the bell—and out she popped! It made him jump.

“I was on my way to The Bell and Dragon,” Billy told her. “But the notice in your window just happened to catch my eye.”