Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of `
` country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is `
` not personally threatened." `
` `
` "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." `
` `
` "Quite so. She has her freedom." `
` `
` "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" `
` `
` "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would `
` cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is `
` correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we `
` shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of `
` the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has `
` to tell." `
` `
` The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no `
` distance from the station, and there we found the young lady `
` waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch `
` awaited us upon the table. `
` `
` "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It `
` is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I `
` should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." `
` `
` "Pray tell us what has happened to you." `
` `
` "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. `
` Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into `
` town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." `
` `
` "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long `
` thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. `
` `
` "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, `
` with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is `
` only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and `
` I am not easy in my mind about them." `
` `
` "What can you not understand?" `
` `
` "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just `
` as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and `
` drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he `
` said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, `
` for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all `
` stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds `
` round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which `
` slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about `
` a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs `
` to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord `
` Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in `
` front of the hall door has given its name to the place. `
` `
` "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, `
` and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. `
` There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to `
` us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is `
` not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much `
` younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, `
` while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their `
` conversation I have gathered that they have been married about `
` seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by `
` the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. `
` Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them `
` was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As `
` the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite `
` imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her `
` father's young wife. `
` `
` "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as `
` in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. `
` She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately `
` devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey `
` eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every `
` little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her `
` also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they `
` seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, `
` this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the `
` saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her `
` in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of `
` her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so `
` utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small `
` for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. `
` His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between `
` savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving `
` pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea `
` of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning `
` the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would `
` rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he `
` has little to do with my story." `
` `
` "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they `
` seem to you to be relevant or not." `
` `
` "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one `
` unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was `
` the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a `
` man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, `
` uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual `
` smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been `
` quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. `
` His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as `
` silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most `
` unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the `
` nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one `
` corner of the building. `
` `
` "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was `
` very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after `
` breakfast and whispered something to her husband. `
` `
` "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to `
` you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut `
` your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest `
` iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue `
` dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in `
` your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should `
` both be extremely obliged.' `
` `
` "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade `
` of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it `
` bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not `
` have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. `
` and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which `
` seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for `
` me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching `
` along the entire front of the house, with three long windows `
` reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the `
` central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was `
` asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the `
` other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest `
` stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how `
` comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. `
` Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so `
` much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, `
` anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle `
` suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the `
` day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in `
` the nursery. `
` `
` "Two days later this same performance was gone through under `
` exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I `
` sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny `
` stories of which my employer had an immense r�pertoire, and which `
` he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and `
` moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not `
` fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for `
` about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then `
` suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and `
` to change my dress. `
` `
` "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to `
` what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly `
` be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face `
` away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire `
` to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be `
` impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been `
` broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of `
` the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst `
` of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able `
` with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I `
` confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that `
` was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I `
` perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, `
` a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in `
` my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are `
` usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the `
` railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I `
` lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her `
` eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, `
` but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my `
` hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. `
` `
` "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the `
` road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' `
` `
` "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. `
` `
` "'No, I know no one in these parts.' `
` `
` "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to `
` him to go away.' `
` `
` "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' `
` `
` "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn `
` round and wave him away like that.' `
` `
` "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew `
` down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have `
` not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor `
` seen the man in the road." `
` `
` "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a `
` most interesting one." `
` `
` "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may `
` prove to be little relation between the different incidents of `
` which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper `
`
` country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is `
` not personally threatened." `
` `
` "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." `
` `
` "Quite so. She has her freedom." `
` `
` "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" `
` `
` "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would `
` cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is `
` correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we `
` shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of `
` the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has `
` to tell." `
` `
` The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no `
` distance from the station, and there we found the young lady `
` waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch `
` awaited us upon the table. `
` `
` "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It `
` is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I `
` should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." `
` `
` "Pray tell us what has happened to you." `
` `
` "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. `
` Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into `
` town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." `
` `
` "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long `
` thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. `
` `
` "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, `
` with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is `
` only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and `
` I am not easy in my mind about them." `
` `
` "What can you not understand?" `
` `
` "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just `
` as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and `
` drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he `
` said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, `
` for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all `
` stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds `
` round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which `
` slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about `
` a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs `
` to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord `
` Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in `
` front of the hall door has given its name to the place. `
` `
` "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, `
` and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. `
` There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to `
` us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is `
` not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much `
` younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, `
` while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their `
` conversation I have gathered that they have been married about `
` seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by `
` the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. `
` Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them `
` was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As `
` the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite `
` imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her `
` father's young wife. `
` `
` "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as `
` in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. `
` She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately `
` devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey `
` eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every `
` little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her `
` also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they `
` seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, `
` this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the `
` saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her `
` in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of `
` her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so `
` utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small `
` for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. `
` His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between `
` savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving `
` pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea `
` of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning `
` the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would `
` rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he `
` has little to do with my story." `
` `
` "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they `
` seem to you to be relevant or not." `
` `
` "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one `
` unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was `
` the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a `
` man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, `
` uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual `
` smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been `
` quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. `
` His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as `
` silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most `
` unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the `
` nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one `
` corner of the building. `
` `
` "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was `
` very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after `
` breakfast and whispered something to her husband. `
` `
` "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to `
` you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut `
` your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest `
` iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue `
` dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in `
` your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should `
` both be extremely obliged.' `
` `
` "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade `
` of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it `
` bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not `
` have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. `
` and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which `
` seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for `
` me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching `
` along the entire front of the house, with three long windows `
` reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the `
` central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was `
` asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the `
` other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest `
` stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how `
` comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. `
` Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so `
` much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, `
` anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle `
` suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the `
` day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in `
` the nursery. `
` `
` "Two days later this same performance was gone through under `
` exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I `
` sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny `
` stories of which my employer had an immense r�pertoire, and which `
` he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and `
` moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not `
` fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for `
` about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then `
` suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and `
` to change my dress. `
` `
` "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to `
` what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly `
` be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face `
` away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire `
` to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be `
` impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been `
` broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of `
` the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst `
` of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able `
` with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I `
` confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that `
` was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I `
` perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, `
` a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in `
` my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are `
` usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the `
` railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I `
` lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her `
` eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, `
` but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my `
` hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. `
` `
` "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the `
` road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' `
` `
` "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. `
` `
` "'No, I know no one in these parts.' `
` `
` "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to `
` him to go away.' `
` `
` "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' `
` `
` "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn `
` round and wave him away like that.' `
` `
` "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew `
` down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have `
` not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor `
` seen the man in the road." `
` `
` "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a `
` most interesting one." `
` `
` "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may `
` prove to be little relation between the different incidents of `
` which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper `
`