A short, humorous tale, published in 1972 !

“Dear Mark,” wrote Mrs. Brown, “You don’t know how much it pains me to write this. For the first time, I feel glad that your father is dead. If he had set eyes on your letter how he would have suffered. You say that you took the money hoping to return it in a few days. A few days or a few minutes, what difference does it make? All that matters is that you could go against the very things we have stood for. It is no better than common thieving.”

Mrs. Brown wiped her streaming eyes and glanced bleakly out of the window. “As for the money, you know my circumstances and how difficult it will be for me to make up the amount. However, I shall endeavor to do as much as I can. But it will take time …..”  Thelma Brown broke off with a frown. Someone was coming up the path. She hoped it was not Mrs Green. Thelma was getting rather tired of Mrs. Green’s incessant chatter and her frequent visits to discuss the comings and goings of the neighbors.

Dolly Green’s short, plump form crossed Thelma’s line of vision for a moment and then her voice called out, loud and clear “ Mrs. Brown are you there?”  Thelma stood immobile for a fraction of a second. If Mrs. Green caught her weeping over Mark’s letter, she would want to know all about it and then it would be over the village within the hour. Hastily, she threw a newspaper over the letters and looked around for a place to hide.

Just as Thelma lowered herself behind the huge horse-hair sofa,  Mrs Green entered, calling once again  “Is anyone in?” She gazed around the apparently empty room and then took a chair. Thelma was annoyed. She had hoped that the woman would have left when she saw the place was empty. She smiled wryly to herself in the corner, as she recollected how difficult it had always been to get rid of Dolly Green. She and her “Remember the time I gave a letter to Mark’s manager?”  It was true that she had helped in getting Mark his job. She didn’t have to throw it in Thelma’s face every time they met. Still, Dolly Green wasn’t a bad sort, really.

Thelma waited nervously and impatiently. Her legs were beginning to get cramped. But Mrs. Green’s portly form seem to be permanently ensconced in the chair and there was an industrious click of knitting needles. After what felt like an eternity to Thelma, Mrs.  Green put away her knitting and rose. She wandered around the room aimlessly for a few minutes and came to the table. Casually, she picked up the newspaper and started reading the headlines in a half-audible murmur.

Thelma’s heart leapt into her mouth.  The letters …Mark’s thick, white one and her tear-stained reply…they lay on the table right under Dolly Green’s eyes! It could only be an instant more before the old gossip’s glance fell on them.

Thelma knew that she would not hesitate to read the revealing letters. What a juicy morsel of gossip it would provide for Mrs. Green! Thelma contemplated emerging from her hiding place before Dolly Green saw the letters, but she dismissed the idea instantly. Her sudden appearance from behind the sofa might give Mrs. Green a shock and Thelma knew that she had a weak heart.  For a moment, Thelma was undecided. The best thing would be to let Dolly Green read the letters. And then… Thelma smiled to herself as a plan formed in her mind.

In the meanwhile, Mrs. Green was pouring over the two letters avidly. Her lips moved soundlessly and there was an excited gleam in her eyes. She read them once more and put them back carefully under the newspaper. Picking up her knitting, she almost ran from the room, her head bobbing up and down with satisfaction.

Thelma rose from behind the sofa rubbing her back ruefully. She set about making herself a cup of tea. Then it struck her !!!

She would give Mrs. Green a quarter of an hour and then go over to see her.

”Oh Mrs. Green, I am so glad I found you at home. The most dreadful thing has happened.”  Thelma stood on the doorstep with a hand on her bosom gasping agitatedly. “You had better come in and tell me all about it,” said Dolly Green and led her in.

“Oh dear, I don’t know how I am going to bring myself to tell you. I am coming all of a faint.”   Thelma closed her eyes and shuddered delicately. After a moment, she composed herself and began. “This morning I had a letter from Mark. You would never guess what he had written! That foolish boy has taken some money from the bank!” she brought out in a rush.

Dolly Green tried to look adequately surprised. Of course, she had not expected Thelma herself to come and tell her about the letters.  “But that is not all,“  cried Thelma, almost wringing her hands, “I was writing to Mark this afternoon and before I could finish the letter, I was called next door. I put the letters and a draft for £50 that I had made out to Mark, on the table and went out. I couldn’t have been out for more than a few minutes and when I came back the draft was missing! “

This time, Mrs. Green was really taken aback.  “A draft for £50? …But there was no …” she bit back the words just in time.

“Oh ! Mrs. Green were you there, by any chance? asked Thelma eagerly. You didn’t see it did you?  There was a handkerchief on the table and I thought it might be yours. It has the initials D.G. on it. ”Thelma produced a wisp of lace from her bag. “ No…Of course not!” said Dolly  Green sharply. “Well, I thought you might have been passing by and have just dropped in to see me.”  Thelma leaned forward “£50 is a lot of money!. I should I hate to think that anyone I know had taken it. “

Their eyes met. Dolly Green understood now. There was no £50 draft. But if Thelma let it be known that Mrs. Green had been at her place when a draft  for £50 was missing, then the entire village would immediately jump to the conclusion that Dolly  Green had something to do with it. She would have a hard time living it down.

“By the way,” hesitated Thelma, “You won’t mention this thing about Mark to anyone, will you?” “Certainly not “ replied Mrs. Green. “And I am sure you will find your missing draft if you search carefully.”

The two ladies smiled at each other. “Won’t you stay and have a cup of tea?” said Mrs. Green.