It's the same with photographs.
People nowadays have so few photographs about.
Now I like to keep all the pictures of my nephews and nieces as babies - and then as children - and so on."
"You've got a horrible one of me, aged three," said Bunch.
"Holding a fox terrier and squinting."
"I expect your aunt has many photographs of you," said Miss Marple, turning to Patrick.
"Oh, we're only distant cousins," said Patrick.
"I believe Elinor did send me one of you as a baby, Pat," said Miss Blacklog.
"But I'm afraid I didn't keep it.
I'd really forgotten how many children she'd had or what their names were until she wrote me about you two being over here."
"Another sign of the times," said Miss Marple.
"Nowadays one so often doesn't know one's younger relations at all.
In the old days, with all the big family reunions, that would have been impossible."
"I last saw Pat and Julia's mother at a wedding thirty years ago," said Miss Blacklog.
"She was a very pretty girl."
"That's why she has such handsome children," said Patrick with a grin.
"You've got a marvellous old album," said Julia.
"Do you remember, Aunt Letty, we looked through it the other day.
The hats!"
"And how smart we thought ourselves," said Miss Blacklog with a sigh.
"Never mind, Aunt Letty," said Patrick,
"Julia will come across a snapshot of herself in about thirty years' time - and won't she think she looks a guy!"
"Did you do that on purpose?" said Bunch, as she and Miss Marple were walking home.
"Talk about photographs I mean?"
"Well, my dear, it is interesting to know that Miss Blacklog didn't know either of her two young relatives by sight... Yes - I think Inspector Craddock will be interested to hear that."
Chapter 12 MORNING ACTIVITIES IN CHIPPING CLEGHORN
Edmund Swettenham sat down rather precariously on a garden roller.
"Good morning, Phillipa," he said.
"Hallo."
"Are you very busy?"
"Moderately."
"What are you doing?"
"Can't you see?"
"No.
I'm not a gardener.
You seem to be playing with earth in some fashion."
"I'm pricking out winter lettuce."
"Pricking out?
What a curious term! Like pinking. Do you know what pinking is? I only learnt the other day. I always thought it was a term for professional duelling."
"Do you want anything particular?" asked Phillipa coldly.
"Yes.
I want to see you."
Phillipa gave him a quick glance.
"I wish you wouldn't come here like this.
Mrs. Lucas won't like it."
"Doesn't she allow you to have followers?"
"Don't be absurd."
"Followers. That's another nice word.
It describes my attitude perfectly.
Respectful - at a distance - but firmly pursuing."