The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 51 (1/2)
”The eress had sat all this while busy with her papers without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me noith sothat she had lost a handsoh my refusal
”'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked
”'If you please, Miss Stoper'
”'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the most excellent offers in this fashi+on,' said she sharply 'You can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such opening for you Good-day to you, Miss Hunter' She struck a gong upon the table, and I was shown out by the page
”Well, Mr Holh in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the table, I began to askAfter all, if these people had strange fads and expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were at least ready to pay for their eccentricity Very few governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year Besides, what use wasit short and perhaps I should be a the number Next day I was inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after I was sure of it I had alency and inquire whether the place was still open when I received this letter froentleman himself I have it here and I will read it to you:
”'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester
”'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have reconsidered your decision My wife is very anxious that you should come, for she has been ive 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which our fads , after all My wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would like you to wear such a dress indoors in the o to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one belonging to hter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which would, I should think, fit you very well Then, as to sitting here or there, or a yourself in any ards your hair, it is no doubt a pity, especially as I could not help re our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary may recompense you for the loss Your duties, as far as the child is concerned, are very light Now do try to co-cart at Winchester Let me know your train
Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE'
”That is the letter which I have just received, Mr Holht, however, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the whole matter to your consideration”
”Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is
”But you would not advise me to refuse?”
”I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to see a sister ofof it all, Mr Holmes?”
”Ah, I have no data I cannot tell Perhaps you have yourself formed some opinion?”
”Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution Mr
Rucastle seeood-natured man Is it not possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an outbreak?”
”That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is the most probable one But in any case it does not see lady”
”But the money, Mr Holood--too good That is what ive you 120 pounds a year, when they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There ht that if I told you the circumstances you would understand afterwards if I wanted your help I should feel so er if I felt that you were at the back ofaith you I assure you that your little proble which has co distinctly novel about some of the features If you should find yourself in doubt or in danger--”
”Danger! What danger do you foresee?”
Holer if we could define it,” said he ”But at any ti h” She rose briskly from her chair with the anxiety all swept froo down to Hampshi+re quite easy in my mind now I shall write to Mr Rucastle at once, sacrifice ht, and start for Winchester to-rateful words to Holht and bustled off upon her way
”At least,” said I as we heard her quick, fir lady who is very well able to take care of herself”
”And she would need to be,” said Holravely ”I am much mistaken if we do not hear fro before ht went by, during which I frequently found e side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to soh whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine As to Holmes, I observed that he sat frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an abstracted air, but he swept the matter aith a wave of his hand when I mentioned it ”Data! data! data!” he cried impatiently ”I can't make bricks without clay” And yet he would alind up bythat no sister of his should ever have accepted such a situation
The telegraht just as I was thinking of turning in and Holht cheed in, when I would leave hiht and find him in the sa He opened the yellow envelope, and then, glancing at the e, threw it across to me