1928. Rinehart,American writer of mystery novels known for their humor and ingenuity,begins Two Flights Up: Answering the front door at the Bayne house was alengthy matter. The postman had learned this long ago, and now hemerely laid the mail in the vestibule and went away. First, Mrs. Baynewould look in the old reflecting mirror which still hung from herbedroom window and take note of the ringer. Then she would whispercautiously over the stair rail: It's the milk bill. I'm not in. Or, ashad been happening more and more frequently for the last six months:It's Furness, Holly. Come right up, and I'll send down your AuntMargaret to receive him.A boarder comes to live with three women and finds them frighteningly strangeFromthe outside, it seems like the three women of the Bayne house arefrozen in time. There is Mrs. Bayne, an aging widow obsessed withpropriety; her sister, Margaret, a spinster whose desperate lonelinessis eating her from the inside out; and young Holly, a beautiful creaturewith a vibrancy that fades a little each day. Her only hope is FurnessBrooks, a playboy with an idea that he might like to marry Holly, buteach day that he doesn’t propose, she becomes more frightened that shewill die an old maid.Into this steps Howard Warrington, a bondsalesman who answers an advertisement to rent the Baynes’ extra room. Hefinds the house to be full of old secrets and quiet grudges, and hesoon grows to hate his life there. But when Margaret attempts to killherself, he realizes how dark life is for the women Bayne—and howdifficult it might be for him to escape.