Learn English Through Story Level 3 | Graded Reader Level 3 | English Story | Two Unhappy Women

chapter 1 I arrive at the Grange Claremont private nursing agency this is Angela speaking can I help you Angela it's an Anne Harrison have you got the information about that new job oh hello an wait a minute yes here it is we need a private nurse for Mrs Kitty Blakemore Kitty Blakemore the famous writer yes said Angela that's right but listen an there isn't really much wrong with her her heart is a little weak but she's not really ill she's just a hypochondriac oh I see one of those what's the address the gra kingsfield Sussex

said Angela she wants you to be there tomorrow morning good luck early next morning I drove to kingsfield a pretty little village near the Sea The Grange was just outside the village at the end of a private road it was a large Gray House I rang the bell and waited no one answered so I rang it again at last the door opened and a young blonde girl appeared she wore a dark blue dress and a white apron she stood there and stared at me yes she said I'm nurse Harrison I said the nursing agency sent

me oh yes come in I followed her into the Hall a tall woman about 40 years old was coming down the stairs nurse Harrison she asked we shook hands I'm Stella vixon the housekeeper she was quite beautiful but also a little strange and frightening she was very controlled and there was something mysterious about her eyes I hope you'll be happy here she said Charlotte will show you to your room now then she smiled at me strangely and walked away I followed Charlotte up the stairs and down a long corridor door she pushed open a door

at the end here's your room she said I put down my suitcase I waited for her to go away but she didn't instead she sat down on my bed why do you want to work in this place she asked it's just a job I replied Mrs blakemore's terrible said Charlotte she's not really sick she just wants to lie in bed all day and give us orders I don't know why her husband likes her he's famous too you know he writes wonderful music have you ever heard of him no well he's lucky he's away at the

moment he's working in Wales poor us we have to stay here with her Charlotte was talking and I was brushing my hair and looking at her in the mirror she took something out of her apron pocket and examined it suddenly there was a knock at the door and she jumped off the bed she quickly put the thing back in her pocket Stella vixon came in are you still here Charlotte she said hurry up and go downstairs oh and Mrs Blakemore has lost one of her rings it's not in her Jewel box do you know anything

about it what do you mean I'm not a thief cried Charlotte angrily I didn't take it all right said Miss vixon calm down I only said do you know anything about it now hurry up and go and do your work then she turned to me if you're ready nurse Harrison we'll go and see Mrs Blakemore now chapter 2 Mrs Blakemore I followed Miss Vixen down the corridor we went to another part of the house she knocked on a heavy white door and we walked into Mrs blakemore's bedroom the curtains were half closed and the room

was quite dark a woman about 55 years old was sitting up in bed is that the new nurse she asked in a sharp voice voice I was surprised because she really did look very white and sick some bottles of medicine and bottles of pills were on the table beside the bed the bed itself was covered with books letters and half-eaten chocolates yes this is Nurse Harrison said the housekeeper good said Mrs Blakemore now you get out and leave us alone I was astonished but miss vixon said nothing she just smiled politely and left the room

Mrs Blakemore stared at me you look intelligent nurse she said these others they're all useless I'm not getting better you know I'm getting worse a look of fear came into her eyes do you know sometimes I think that someone is poisoning me nonsense I said you just need some nice fresh air I pulled back the curtains and opened the window sunlight poured into the room I took her temperature it was perfectly normal now Mrs Blakemore I said a nice walk in the garden will make you feel a lot better oh don't be silly she said

I'm much too weak at that moment Miss vixon opened the door and said Dr Spencer is here a short fat man with glasses came in and how's my patient today he asked I've got a very nasty taste in my mouth doctor she complained my legs hurt and I feel sick ah he said but you've got a nice new nurse what a lucky woman you are listen doctor said Mrs Blakemore I'm not getting better I was sick last night oh dear said Dr Spencer you've been eating too many chocolates he smiled at her and then at

me I'm really sick you fool said Mrs Blakemore angrily my dear lady said Dr Spencer gently please don't worry you worry too much he looked at me I'll just give her a little injection it will calm her down I nodded she has some strange ideas he said she's a writer you see the injection worked soon she was lying there quietly then Dr Spencer noticed the chocolates look what did I say more chocolate dear dear yes my nephew always brings me chocolates said Mrs Blakemore your nephew my nephew our Vicor the Reverend John Palmer she explained

in a tired voice oh so he's your nephew is he that's interesting said the doctor I didn't know that I've told you hundreds of times said Mrs Blakemore your memory isn't very good is it or perhaps you just want to annoy me he laughed a little nervously and he left the room useless man she said then she smiled at me strangely I've got a little joke for Dr Spencer have you I said yes I've told him that I'm going to leave him a lot of money in my will when I die but it's not true

no I'm not going to leave him anything Mrs Blakemore laughed weakly he's a useless doctor why don't you get a new one I asked this isn't London you know she said this is the country there's only one other doctor near here and he lives 10 miles away he's useless too the world is full of useless people she closed her eyes anyway I'm leaving all my money to my nephew but what about your husband Edward her face looked almost kind for a moment Edward doesn't want my money he has plenty of his own even this house

is his anyway he doesn't really care about money he only thinks about music she put another chocolate in her mouth and ate it outside in the coridor I met Charlotte she was carrying Mrs blakemore's lunch she took it into the bedroom and then she showed me the way to the kitchen here we all ate in silence until Bernard the cook suddenly put down his knife and fork what do you think of her then he asked me Mrs Blakemore oh she seems all right I replied all right he said she's rude selfish and mean do you

know she's got lots of money loads of it but she always makes us use the last little bit of everything the last bit of milk the last bit of bread well perhaps she doesn't like to waste anything I said there was silence again Mrs Blakemore thinks that someone is poisoning her I said Bernard laughed really he said I'm sure that we would all like to poison her if we could I would do it if I could think of a good way Miss vixen's face went white Bernard well it's true isn't it he said you don't

like her either do you miss vixon didn't answer Bernard went to get the ice cream from the fridge he walked with some difficulty I saw that he had something wrong with his left leg suddenly Charlotte said to me that's a nice ring you have it's a diamond isn't it yes I said at last the conversation had changed I'm getting married next year my boyfriend's name's David and he's a sailor he's going to be away at sea for the next 6 months oh I'd like to get married too Charlotte said I want to marry a rich

man then I can have a big house like this and a maid she laughed who knows per perhaps if Mrs Blakemore dies Mr Blakemore will marry me he's a bit old but he's famous and he is Rich if that's a joke Charlotte it's not very funny said Miss vixon Bernard laughed again yes Charlotte keep your mouth shut Mr Blakemore would never want to marry a silly little girl like you chapter 3 a nasty taste after lunch I visited my patient she was asleep the plate was by the bed she hadn't eaten very much M I

thought she doesn't need all these bottles of medicine and pills she just needs some vitamin tonic I decided to walk into the village and buy some for her it was a beautiful afternoon and the village looked very pretty as I passed the church I remembered that the vicer was Mrs blakemore's nephew so I went inside to have a look it was a lovely old building but it was in a terrible condition some of the colored glass in the windows was broken and there were holes in the roof there was only one shop in kingsfield the

woman who owned it was busy she was talking to a thin man in a black suit oh dear vicer she said it's going to cost a lot of money to mend that roof don't worry Mrs Owen he said we'll get the money then she noticed me a stranger her smile disappeared yes she said the vicer turned round I could see his face now it was a proud face with a thin mouth and dull eyes so this was Mrs blakemore's nephew hello I said brightly a bottle of tonic please that evening I saw Reverend Palmer again

I had just helped Mrs Blakemore to go to her bathroom she wanted to wash and brush her teeth when he came in I was helping her to get back into bed he was holding another box of chocolates ah John it's you come and sit down she said look I've got a nice new nurse she's going to make me better he looked at me but I don't think he remembered me smile John smile his aunt said you're always so serious that's because I am very worried about the church Aunt Kitty he said we need thousands of

pounds to mend the roof oh stop it said Mrs Blakemore you're always talking about the church it's so boring come on Nurse open the chocolates my nephew needs something to make him smile but he stood up no not for me thank you Aunt I must go now I'm very busy I opened the box of chocolates and gave it to Mrs Blakemore then I left the room outside the door I met Charlotte she was carrying Mrs blakemore's dinner what's she having tonight I asked scrambled eggs said Charlotte we're having scrambled eggs too I went down to

the kitchen Bernard and Miss vixon were talking when they saw me they stopped I sat down the silence was worse than at lunchtime Mrs Blakemore only ate half of her scrambled eggs if you don't eat your food you won't get better I said I hate to waste things but this tastes terrible she complained take it away I want a glass of hot milk I went back to the kitchen and I told Bernard oh she always says my food tastes terrible he said she wants a glass of hot milk I told him does she he said

well I'm not making it for her I'll make it said Miss vixon don't worry nurse go and watch television I'll take it up to her I watched television until 9:30 then I went upstairs I must brush my teeth again said Mrs Blakemore I've got a very nasty taste in my mouth I helped her to get out of bed you really are very weak I said tomorrow you must eat all your food oh don't talk to me about food I Stood Beside her in the bathroom I thought she might fall the toothpaste was nearly finished but

she managed to get out every last bit she brushed her teeth several times I smiled I remembered what Bernard had said about her that's better she said get me some more toothpaste tomorrow nurse here she gave me the empty tube this is the kind I like they don't sell it in the village you'll have to drive to Hastings my husband usually gets it for me I I put the tube in my apron pocket then I put my arm around her because she was so weak she couldn't breathe very well perhaps she wasn't a hypochondriac perhaps

she really was ill I felt a bit worried and I decided to Telephone Dr Spencer the next day chapter 4 a suspicious death but the following morning there was an urgent knock on my door it was Stella vixon nurse nurse she cried something terrible has happened Mrs blakemore's dead I stared at her dead yes I must go she said I must go and telephone Mr Blakemore at once oh what am I going to say telephone Dr Spencer too I said then then I ran down the corridor Mrs Blakemore was lying with her eyes open the

light beside her bed was still on and the curtains were closed the empty milk glass was on the floor I lifted her arm but it was already cold a strange sweet smell came from her mouth Charlotte appeared with the breakfast take that away I said I'm going to call the police police the police she whispered why I think that Mrs Blakemore has been murdered I phoned the police and a moment later Dr Spencer arrived oh dear he said I can't understand it her heart was a little weak but it was nothing serious I just can't

understand it I didn't think that she would die no doctor neither did I I said coldly but perhaps her heart wasn't the problem can you smell that strange smell perhaps she has been poisoned poisoned his hands shook you're not serious yes I am I said she thought that she was being poisoned but I didn't believe her she said that her legs hurt and that she felt sick I didn't didn't do anything but now I remember poison can make people feel like that Doctor Spencer looked at Mrs Blakemore then at me then he looked at the

door did he want to escape at last he said quietly perhaps we should telephone the police don't worry I said I've already done that when the police arrived D Miss vixon brought them in the inspector was wearing a dark suit the policewoman was in uniform inspector bradoock and police Constable hemings she announced ah the police good said Dr Spencer nervously he was still looking at the door has anyone touched anything or moved anything from the room asked inspector bradoock no said Miss vixon then he turned and looked at me are you the nurse who telephoned

us yes I said I'm from the nursing agency I only arrived here yesterday Mrs Blakemore thought that someone was poisoning her but I didn't believe her you see the agency told me that she was a hypochondriac everyone said that she wasn't really ill the policewoman picked up the empty chocolate box who gave her these chocolates her nephew said Dr Spencer but you needn't worry he's our Vicor anyone can be a murderer said the inspector calmly we'll take that away Constable we'll take those bottles of medicine and that bottle of tonic too there's an empty glass

on the floor here sir p Heming said okay said the inspector pick it up the policewoman put the things into a large plastic bag what did Mrs Blakemore eat last night the inspector asked scrambled eggs I said but she only ate about half Bernard threw the last bit away who's Bernard the cook I see said the inspector who else works here only Charlotte said miss vixon the maid inspector bradic looked out of the window perhaps Mrs Blakemore was poisoned he said we don't know yet we must wait for the results of the autopsy ah there's

the ambulance they've come to take the body away now then is is there a Mr Blakemore yes said Miss vixon he's been working in Wales for a few weeks I've just called him he'll be here this evening then we'll come back later said the inspector but first I'd like to speak to Bernard and Charlotte where's the kitchen I went to my room and stayed there all day I felt terrible I blamed myself but I blamed Dr Spencer and the nursing agency too why had none of us done anything to help her she had been sick

she had been really sick and now she was dead chapter 5 who is the murderer at about 6:00 I went downstairs Mr Blakemore had just arrived Charlotte was taking his suitcase he was a good-looking man of about 50 with white hair his face was tired and worried come into my study he said to miss vixon and tell me all about it I went to the kitchen because I wanted a sandwich Bernard was pouring away a bottle of milk Bernard I said what are you doing the inspector doesn't want us to throw anything away he turned

around are you suggesting that I poisoned her what about you it's strange isn't it you arrive here and the next day Mrs Blakemore is murdered don't be silly I said I don't have a motive suddenly Stella vixon rushed in nurse Harrison quick can you come and see Mr Blakemore when I reached his study he was walking up and down sit down Mr Blakemore I said here let me pour a drink for you I want to be with her he was crying quietly why can't I be with her I'm sorry I said they took your wife's

body away he put his hands over his face then Charlotte appeared at the door it's the police she whispered they're here again they only spoke to Mr Blakemore that night but the next day they returned and questioned everybody then the following day a lawyer came to read the will Dr Spencer and Reverend Palmer arrived to hear it with the others I was not invited so I spent the morning in my bedroom nothing was certain yet but I felt sure she had been murdered there were three questions who how why I made a list and tried

to work it out one was it her nephew the Reverend John Palmer with his boxes of chocolates did he murder her for the money to repair the Village Church two was it Dr Spencer with his medicines and injections did he think that she would leave him some money three was it Bernard the cook did he poison her food why did he hate Mrs Blakemore so much four was it Charlotte the maid did she put something into Mrs blakemore's food does she think that Mr Blakemore will marry her now five was it Stella vixon the housekeeper

did she poison the hot milk why does she seem so strange chapter 6 they all have a secret that afternoon the inspector announced we now have the results of the autopsy Mrs Blakemore was poisoned she was probably given small amounts of arsenic for some time to make her weak then another poison cyanide finally killed her he looked around at us all everyone seemed nervous and uncomfortable now then he continued what was the motive for this murder well money's usually a good motive and in her will Mrs Blakemore left all her money to her nephew several

million pounds nothing to anyone else nothing to her husband this seems a bit strange the Reverend John Palmer looked down at his hands embarrassed there's nothing about it said Mr Blake more quietly Kitty always said that she was going to leave everything to her nephew she had no children you see and she was very fond of her sister so when her sister died she decided to look after her sister's son anyway she didn't need to leave me any money I have plenty and this house is all mine I see said the inspector well vicer now

you've got plenty of money too haven't you you can mend that church roof now can't you the Reverend Palmer's face went red but he said nothing the inspector continued PC hemings please read those lines about Dr Spencer and the will the policewoman stood up and read from the will Dr Spencer is expecting a reward but it was only a little joke I am sure that he will understand so doctor said the inspector Mrs Blakemore said that she would leave you some money did she well yes the doctor was cleaning his glasses nervously a little reward

a little thank you for my help oh how terrible cried Charlotte what a cruel joke if you expected some money said the inspector then perhaps you too had a motive for murder doctor oh really Dr Spencer stood up I won't listen to any more of this I'm a doctor not a murderer we shall see said the inspector sit down again please sir now Mrs Blakemore was not an easy person to live with am I right she was often very rude and unkind is this correct well said Mr Blakemore she could be difficult sometimes she was

an intelligent woman and she didn't like fools but sir said the inspector you are an intelligent man but you do not seem to be rude and unkind that's because he's a nicer person than she was said Charlotte hotly I see the inspector looked closely at her you didn't like Mrs Blakemore did you no I didn't said charlet angrily perhaps she didn't like you either but she gave you a job here didn't she you were dismissed from your last job because you stole things you left without any references and yet Mrs Blakemore accepted you here how

do you know all that cried Charlotte we've been asking a lot of questions said the inspector then he turned to Bernard tell us something about yourself Bernard what do you want to know how long have you known Mrs Blakemore I've worked here for 4 years he answered uh yes but you first met her a long time ago said the inspector I've been talking to your mother she said she used to be Mrs blakemore's maid years ago in London Bernard said nothing he touched his bad leg and looked unhappy you remember don't you Bernard you were

the maid's child a poor little boy with a damaged leg your mother worked for the the rich lady in the big house Stella vixon was looking at Bernard she seemed sorry for him the inspector continued you needed an operation on your leg didn't you but it was too expensive and Mrs Blakemore wouldn't help you would she Bernard suddenly spoke she was so mean he cried angrily my mother asked her for some money but she refused then she dismissed my mother for no reason yes I know said the inspector calmly then years later you came to

work for Mrs Blakemore yourself you wanted to kill her didn't you Bernard laughed I certainly hated her he said but at first I didn't know that it was the same woman believe me inspector I was surprised to see her again I stayed because I like the country there are other reasons too he looked over at Charlotte with a smile but she looked away from him angrily I'm sorry inspector but I didn't kill Mrs Blakemore it wasn't me we shall see said inspector bradoock now I have a little problem we have examined the things from Mrs

Blake Moore's bedroom but we can't find any evidence of poison it's very strange she was certainly poisoned we found Arsenic and cyanide in her stomach but how did they get there perhaps something was thrown away before we arrived I remembered that Bernard had thrown away some milk was he guilty I even began to feel guilty myself inspector bradock wrote some notes on a piece of paper I looked around at everyone the Reverend Palmer sat very straight in his seat his lips tightly closed Bernard looked angry Dr Spencer was wiping his face and glasses again Charlotte

looked frightened Stella vixen's face was embarrassed she was looking down at her hands like someone in pain I looked quickly across the room and noticed something for a second only a second or two Mr Blakemore lifted his head and looked at her there was something mysterious in his eyes okay that's all for today said inspector bradoock we'll come back tomorrow I was worried but I didn't know why I had forgotten something but what Stella vixon was very quiet during dinner why had m Mr Blakemore looked at her in that strange Way chapter 7 two unhappy

women later at about 10:00 I left my bedroom and went down the corridor to the bathroom on my way back I heard something someone was crying the noise came from Miss vixen's room so I knocked on her door it's me nurse Harrison I said is anything wrong the handle turned and the door opened a little can I come in I said she looked terribly unhappy and her eyes were red what's the matter I asked I can't tell you she whispered sit down here on the bed I suggested you're normally so calm and controlled what is

it she looked at me for a moment then she hid her face in her hands I didn't want her to die she whispered she wasn't always a very nice woman but murder that's terrible I put my arm around her yes Stella vixon was different from the others she was the only one with a kind heart she had never said anything nasty about Mrs Blakemore someone in the house might be the murderer but it wasn't Stella vixon I felt sure please she said you must go now but will you be all right I was worried she

seemed so frightened yes go she said I'm sorry it's my problem well well try to get some sleep I said I'll see you in the morning yes thank you Nurse good night I was worried about her perhaps Charlotte could help I went along the corridor to her room and knocked Charlotte can I come in there was no reply so I knocked again at last she opened the door what is it she said sleep I need to talk to you I'm half asleep she complained but she let me in she got back into bed I sat

down beside her I've Just Seen Miss vixon she's been crying and she seems very frightened do you know why number it's not my business she can do what she likes I don't care you don't like like her do you why she did not reply instead she looked bored she began to play with something on one of her fingers it was a diamond ring that's pretty I said where did you get it from it's mine she said quickly then she hid the ring with her other hand someone gave it to me is it one of Mrs

blakemore's Rings her face went red I didn't take it he gave it to me who gave it to you she would not answer listen Charlotte I said I tried to be gentle did Mr Blakemore give you that ring she started to cry quietly angrily then suddenly she said I saw them he tried to kiss her who I went into the study with some wood for the fire it was in February I saw them charlot's eyes became darker why did he want her she said to herself she sounded jealous what who did you see Mr Blakemore

of course I tried to understand Charlotte you went into the study and you saw Mr Blakemore and and he was trying to kiss his wife is that right no silly she cried Miss vixon I stared at her in astonishment she started to cry later he gave me this little ring he said be a good girl it can be our little secret can it I was so shocked that I couldn't say anything I remembered the strange look that Mr Blakemore had given Miss vixon and the look of embarrassment on her face I don't know why he

wanted her said Charlotte he wanted her to marry him but she told him not to be silly he was already married she looked at me sadly and dried her blue eyes then I remembered something Mr Blakemore had cried I want to be with her why can't can I be with her now I understood he hadn't been talking about his wife that night he had been talking about Stella vixon you've been a bit silly yourself Charlotte I said Mr Blakemore is much too old for you one day you'll meet the right man I'm sure now go

to sleep you can tell all this to the police tomorrow morning the police she whispered why it may help them will I have to give back the ring I don't know Charlotte anyway there are more important things than your ring I left her outside I began to shake with fear did Mr Blakemore murder his wife no it was impossible he hadn't been in the house and yet Perhaps there was something I had forgotten what was it chapter 8 a perfect murder suddenly I heard footsteps I hid myself in the shadows against the wall I saw

the shape of a man at the end of the corridor he started to come towards me at Stella vixen's door he stopped and knocked quietly she didn't answer so he knocked again louder he began to walk away away then he came back Stella he called in a low voice it's me Edward I must speak to you you can't refuse me not now he tried to open the door but it was locked at last he stopped and went away down the corridor I opened Charlotte's door Charlotte quick get out of bed lock your door and don't

open it again to anyone tonight not to anyone one I hurried back to my room and locked my own door too I was still shaking it was him he had done it yes Mr Blakemore had murdered his wife and yet it was impossible he had been away in Wales so he couldn't have done it or could he I got into bed and lay down perhaps he had put the poison into something before he went away there was something something I had forgotten about what was it I closed my eyes but I couldn't go to sleep

my head was full of pictures pictures and voices I saw Mr blakemore's face and he said I'm all alone Stella you can't refuse me now then I saw Miss vixen's face her eyes were red and she whispered I didn't want her to die she looked at me and said it's terrible someone has murdered Mrs Blakemore I sat up and put the light on again midnight it was going to be a long night suddenly a picture of Mrs Blakemore came into my head it was the evening of her death she was weak and thin I was

helping her into the bathroom she wanted to brush her teeth she had a nasty taste in her mouth then what oh yes she finished the toothpaste I had to get her some more it was an unusual type her husband her husband usually bought it for her in Hastings I opened my eyes I got out of bed and found my uniform I put my hand into the apron pocket then I touched something hard and cold it was the empty toothpaste tube of course of course so it had nearly been the perfect murder Mr Blakemore had made

sure that he was away far away in Wales so no one would ever suspect him he had put the poison into the toothpaste no one would ever think of that his wife would use it every day until it was finished and the empty tube it would be thrown away so there would never be any evidence it was a large tube enough for several weeks I turned the top and took it off yes I could smell that strange sweet smell again but how did he put the poison into the to toothpaste injections probably yes injections of

arsenic deep into the tube through the opening and what about the cyanide at the bottom it was a long tube too long for most needles I examined the tube very carefully I was looking for marks on the outside yes there were two very small holes in the metal near the end I put the tube back in my apron pocket it was safe there now I had to wait for the morning and the police I washed my hands carefully and climbed back into bed I tried to go to sleep but that was impossible every time I

closed my eyes I could see Mrs Blakemore in her bathroom she was trying to get out every last bit every last bit of the toothpaste and I could hear Bernard's voice do you know she's so mean that she always uses up the last little bit of everything the end