the adventure of the copper beeches-第2节

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　　〃You　may　imagine；　Mr。　Holmes；　that　to　me；　destitute　as　I　was；　such

an　offer　seemed　almost　too　good　to　be　true。　The　gentleman；　however；

seeing　perhaps　the　look　of　incredulity　upon　my　face；　opened　a

pocket…book　and　took　out　a　note。

　　〃'It　is　also　my　custom；'　said　he；　smiling　in　the　most　pleasant

fashion　until　his　eyes　were　just　two　little　shining　slits　amid　the

white　creases　of　his　face；　'to　advance　to　my　young　ladies　half　their

salary　beforehand；　so　that　they　may　meet　any　little　expenses　of

their　journey　and　their　wardrobe。'

　　〃It　seemed　to　me　that　I　had　never　met　so　fascinating　and　so

thoughtful　a　man。　As　I　was　already　in　debt　to　my　tradesmen；　the

advance　was　a　great　convenience；　and　Yet　there　was　something　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。

　　〃'Hampshire。　Charming　rural　place。　The　Copper　Beeches；　five　miles　on

the　far　side　of　Winchester。　It　is　the　most　lovely　country；　my　dear

young　lady；　and　the　dearest　old　country…house。'

　　〃'And　my　duties；　sir？　I　should　be　glad　to　know　what　they　would　be。'

　　〃'One　child…one　dear　little　romper　just　six　years　old。　Oh；　if　you

could　see　him　killing　cockroaches　with　a　slipper！　Smack！　smack！　smack！

Three　gone　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　amusement；　but

the　father's　laughter　made　me　think　that　perhaps　he　was　joking。

　　〃'My　sole　duties；　then；'　I　asked；　'are　to　take　charge　of　a　single

child？'

　　〃'No；　no；　not　the　sole；　not　the　sole；　my　dear　young　lady；'　he　cried。

'Your　duty　would　be；　as　I　am　sure　your　good　sense　would　suggest；　to

obey　any　little　commands　my　wife　might　give；　provided　always　that　they

were　such　commands　as　a　lady　might　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　might　give　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　dream　of

sacrificing　it　in　this　offhand　fashion。

　　〃'I　am　afraid　that　that　is　quite　impossible；'　said　I。　He　had　been

watching　me　eagerly　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　few　more　of　your　young

ladies。'

　　〃The　manageress　had　sat　all　this　while　busy　with　her　papers

without　a　word　to　either　of　us；　but　she　glanced　at　me　now　with　so　much

annoyance　upon　her　face　that　I　could　not　help　suspecting　that　she

had　lost　a　handsome　commission　through　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　fashion；'　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。　Holmes；　when　I　got　back　to　my　lodgings　and　found　little

enough　in　the　cupboard；　and　two　or　three　bills　upon　the　table；　I　began

to　ask　myself　whether　I　had　not　done　a　very　foolish　thing。　After

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　L100　a

year。　Besides；　what　use　was　my　hair　to　me？　Many　people　are　improved　by

wearing　it　short；　and　perhaps　I　should　be　among　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　almost　overcome　my　pride　so　far　as　to　go

back　to　the　agency　and　inquire　whether　the　place　was　still　open　when　I

received　this　letter　from　the　gentleman　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　much

attracted　by　my　description　of　you。　We　are　willing　to　give　L30　a

quarter；　or　L120　a　year；　so　as　to　recompense　you　for　any　little

inconvenience　which　our　fads　may　cause　you。　They　are　not　very

exacting；　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

morning。　You　need　not；　however；　go　to　the　expense　of　purchasing　one；

as　we　have　one　belonging　to　my　dear　daughter　Alice　（now　in

Philadelphia）；　which　would；　I　should　think；　fit　you　very　well。　Then；

as　to　sitting　here　or　there；　or　amusing　yourself　in　any　manner

indicated；　that　need　cause　you　no　inconvenience。　As　regards　your　hair；

it　is　no　doubt　a　pity；　especially　as　I　could　not　help　remarking　its

beauty　during　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　come；　and　I　shall　meet　you

with　the　dog…cart　at　Winchester。　Let　me　know　your　train。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Yours　faithfully；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃JEPHRO　RUCASTLE。〃



　　〃That　is　the　letter　which　I　have　just　received；　Mr。　Holmes；　and　my

mind　is　made　up　that　I　will　accept　it。　I　thought；　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　made　up；　that　settles　the

question；〃　said　Holmes；　smiling。

　　〃But　you　would　not　advise　me　to　refuse？〃

　　〃I　confess　that　it　is　not　the　situation　which　I　should　like　to　see　a

sister　of　mine　apply　for。〃

　　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　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　seemed　to　be　a　very　kind；　good…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　seem　to　be　a　nice

household　for　a　young　lady。〃

　　〃But　the　money；　Mr。　Holmes；　the　money！〃

　　〃Well；　yes；　of　course　the　pay　is　good…too　good。　That　is　what　makes

me　uneasy。　Why　should　they　give　you　L120　a　year；　when　they　could

have　their　pick　for　L40？　There　must　be　some　strong　reason　behind。〃

　　〃I　thought　that　if　I　told　you　the　circumstances　you　would　understand

afterwards　if　I　wanted　your　help。　I　should　feel　so　much　stronger　if

I　felt　that　you　were　at　the　back　of　me。〃

　　〃Oh；　you　may　carry　that　feeling　away　with　you。　I　assure　you　that

your　little　problem　promises　to　be　the　most　interesting　which　has　come

my　way　for　some　months。　There　is　something　distinctly　novel　about　some

of　the　features。　If　you　should　find　yourself　in　doubt　or　in　danger…〃

　　〃Danger！　What　danger　do　you　foresee？〃

　　Holmes　shook　his　head　gravely。　〃It　would　cease　to　be　a　danger　if

we　could　define　it；〃　said　he。　〃But　at　any　time；　day　or　night；　a

telegram　would　bring　me　down　to　your　help。〃

　　〃That　is　enough。〃　She　rose　briskly　from　her　chair　with　the　anxiety

all　swept　from　her　face。　〃I　shall　go　down　to　Hampshire　quite　easy　in

my　mind　now。　I　shall　write　to　Mr。　Rucastle　at　once；　sacrifice　my

poor　hair　to…night；　and　start　for　Winchester　to…morrow。〃　With　a　few

grateful　words　to　Holmes　she　bade　us　both　good…night　and　bustled　off

upon　her　way。

　　〃At　least；〃　said　I　as　we　heard　her　quick；　firm　steps　descending

the　stairs；　〃she　seems　to　be　a　young　lady　who　is　very　well　able　to

take　care　of　herself。〃

　　〃And　she　would　need　to　be；〃　said　Holmes　gravely。　〃I　am　much　mistaken

if　we　do　not　hear　from　her　before　many　days　are　past。〃

　　It　was　not　very　long　before　my　friend's　prediction　was　fulfilled。

A　fortnight　went　by；　during　which　I　frequently　found　my　thoughts

turning　in　her　direction　and　wondering　what　strange　side…alley　of

human　experience　this　lonely　wom