The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 50 (2/2)

”'Tut, tut!' he cried 'This is all quite beside the question

The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment of a lady? There it is in a nutshell If you have not, you are not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a considerable part in the history of the country But if you have why, then, how could any gentle under the three figures? Your salary with me, madaine, Mr Holmes, that to ood to be true The gentle perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, opened a pocket-book and took out a note

”'It is alsoin the most pleasant fashi+on until his eyes were just two little shi+ning slits a ladies half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little expenses of their journey and their wardrobe'

”It seehtful a man As I was already in debt to reat convenience, and yet there was so unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know a little more before I quite committed myself

”'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I

”'Ha rural place The Copper Beeches, five miles on the far side of Winchester It is thelady, and the dearest old country-house'

”'And lad to knohat they would be'

”'One child--one dear little ro cockroaches with a slipper! Sone before you could wink!' He leaned back in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again

”I was a little startled at the nature of the child's ahter

”'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single child?'

”'No, no, not the sole, not the sole,lady,' he cried 'Your duty would be, as I aest, to obey any little coive, provided always that they were such coht with propriety obey You see no difficulty, heh?'

”'I should be happy to make myself useful'

”'Quite so In dress now, for example We are faddy people, you know--faddy but kind-hearted If you were asked to wear any dress which we ive you, you would not object to our little whim

Heh?'

”'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words

”'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to you?'

”'Oh, no'

”'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?'

”I could hardly believe my ears As you may observe, Mr Holmes, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of chestnut It has been considered artistic I could not drea it in this offhand fashi+on

”'I am afraid that that is quite ierly out of his small eyes, and I could see a shadow pass over his face as I spoke

”'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he 'It is a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, ladies' fancies must be consulted And so you won't cut your hair?'

”'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly

”'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter It is a pity, because in other respects you would really have done very nicely In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a fewladies'