prim & proper ...

   "Do you think she'd like these flowers?"

   "What?  Who?"

   "Mary's daughter.  I was going to bring her some out of the garden on Friday."

   "Clarence.  What is going on with you?  First a kilt, now primroses.  Why are you suddenly so interested in Elisa?"

   "Well, I just feel a little responsible."

   "For what?  We don't know that your spider killed her, although if she had a reaction like the officer did it is highly probable that it contributed.  There was no way to conclusively show how she died.  She could have fallen down the stairs, breaking her neck.  It could have been natural causes, she wasn't a spring chicken any longer.  She could have had a heart attack.  Or perhaps a panic attack if her mind slipped and she simply didn't know where she was.  We don't even know for sure that she saw the spider while she was alive.  We only know that IT saw her at some point after she died."

   "For all of that.  I was the one who suggested that she would find more berry jam in the cellar.  I sent her down there."

   "You are too soft, brother.  And perhaps soft on Elisa now as well?"

   "No.  Although she did make a very good pie, I'm just too old and set in my ways.  But, it is unfortunate that her mother died under such odd circumstances, and I feel as if we should have a little more compassion for her."

   "Agreed.  We still have to address the issue of your spider.  We can't pretend it doesn't exist because we could have another unfortunate accident.  While I don't miss going into the basement, I am concerned that it may find a way out."