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"Here’s your tea, dear Do have a seat," Miss Lillian said

Miss Lillian indicated a rocking chair beside an old puan

"Thank you," Evie said, already thinking up excuses for why she needed to leave: sick uncle, building on fire, a sudden case of gangrene

"Addie and I have lived in the Bennington since nearly the beginning Weof 1875 April" She frowned "Or perhaps May"

"Spring of 1875," Evie said, thinking "Miss Lillian, do you reed for murder in 1876?"

Miss Lillian pursed her lips, thinking "I can’t say that I do"

"He was accused ofa woman named Ida Knowles"

"Oh, Ida Knowles! Yes, I remember that Ran off with a fortune hunter, they said And then… yes, yes, I remember now! That man--"

"John Hobbes"

"He was tried for it Oh, he seerave robber, if I recall correctly A charlatan"

"Do you re about hi at all?" Evie sipped her tea It had an odd taste

"No, I’m afraid not, dear I’m an old woman Ah, here’s our Addie now"

Miss Adelaide carried the black cat with the yellow eyes and wore a dress that had probably seen its best days when Teddy Roosevelt was president "I found Hawthorne trying to eatcat

"Miss O’Neill was just asking about the Ida Knowles case--you re for it But I couldn’t remember much, I’m afraid Hawthorne, come here and have some kibble" She put a bit of chicken salad on a plate at her feet and the cat leaped froed hiht of the comet," Miss Addie said dreamily

"Solomon’s Comet?" Evie asked carefully