“You really don't need to do this, Beryl,” he said. “A bit of cleaning isn't beneath either Sarah or myself.”
“I've cleaned this place for over thirty years,” she replied with a smile. “Don't see why I should stop now. For the last hundred years and more the vicars here have had churchwardens-c*m-general factotums.”
“But I've no congregation,” he replied with a laugh. “I can clean all day long if I wish.”
“Things can get pretty hectic here at times,” she resumed polishing as she spoke, “and you'll need every hour that comes.”
“Hectic? I don't understand.”
“You will,” she replied enigmatically. “And then you'll be glad we're around!”
He didn't probe further, feeling it was simpler to take her at her word and wait for the new hectic circumstances to arrive. He pointed to the four-poste
