Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my `
` zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across `
` to me. `
` `
` It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and `
` ran thus: `
` `
` "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether `
` I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered `
` to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I `
` do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, `
` "VIOLET HUNTER." `
` `
` "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. `
` `
` "Not I." `
` `
` "It is half-past ten now." `
` `
` "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." `
` `
` "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You `
` remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to `
` be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. `
` It may be so in this case, also." `
` `
` "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, `
` for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." `
` `
` As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. `
` She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, `
` freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a `
` woman who has had her own way to make in the world. `
` `
` "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my `
` companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange `
` experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort `
` from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be `
` kind enough to tell me what I should do." `
` `
` "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything `
` that I can to serve you." `
` `
` I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner `
` and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching `
` fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and `
` his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. `
` `
` "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the `
` family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel `
` received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his `
` children over to America with him, so that I found myself without `
` a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but `
` without success. At last the little money which I had saved began `
` to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. `
` `
` "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End `
` called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in `
` order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. `
` Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is `
` really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, `
` and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, `
` and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers `
` and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. `
` `
` "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office `
` as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A `
` prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy `
` chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at `
` her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very `
` earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a `
` jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. `
` `
` "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. `
` Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his `
` hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a `
` comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at `
` him. `
` `
` "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. `
` `
` "'Yes, sir.' `
` `
` "'As governess?' `
` `
` "'Yes, sir.' `
` `
` "'And what salary do you ask?' `
` `
` "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence `
` Munro.' `
` `
` "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his `
` fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling `
` passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with `
` such attractions and accomplishments?' `
` `
` "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. `
` 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' `
` `
` "'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 gentleman ask you to condescend to `
` accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, `
` madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' `
` `
` "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 `
`
` zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across `
` to me. `
` `
` It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and `
` ran thus: `
` `
` "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether `
` I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered `
` to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I `
` do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, `
` "VIOLET HUNTER." `
` `
` "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. `
` `
` "Not I." `
` `
` "It is half-past ten now." `
` `
` "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." `
` `
` "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You `
` remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to `
` be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. `
` It may be so in this case, also." `
` `
` "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, `
` for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." `
` `
` As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. `
` She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, `
` freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a `
` woman who has had her own way to make in the world. `
` `
` "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my `
` companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange `
` experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort `
` from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be `
` kind enough to tell me what I should do." `
` `
` "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything `
` that I can to serve you." `
` `
` I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner `
` and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching `
` fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and `
` his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. `
` `
` "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the `
` family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel `
` received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his `
` children over to America with him, so that I found myself without `
` a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but `
` without success. At last the little money which I had saved began `
` to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. `
` `
` "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End `
` called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in `
` order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. `
` Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is `
` really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, `
` and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, `
` and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers `
` and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. `
` `
` "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office `
` as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A `
` prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy `
` chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at `
` her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very `
` earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a `
` jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. `
` `
` "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. `
` Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his `
` hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a `
` comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at `
` him. `
` `
` "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. `
` `
` "'Yes, sir.' `
` `
` "'As governess?' `
` `
` "'Yes, sir.' `
` `
` "'And what salary do you ask?' `
` `
` "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence `
` Munro.' `
` `
` "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his `
` fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling `
` passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with `
` such attractions and accomplishments?' `
` `
` "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. `
` 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' `
` `
` "'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 gentleman ask you to condescend to `
` accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, `
` madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' `
` `
` "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 `
`