the adventure of the copper beeches-第2章

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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　woman　had　strayed　into。　The　unusual

salary；　the　curious　conditions；　the　light　duties；　all　pointed　to

something　abnormal；　though　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　away　with　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　always　wind　up　by　muttering　that　no　sister　of　his

should　ever　have　accepted　such　a　situation。

　　The　telegram　which　we　eventually　received　came　late　one　night　just

as　I　was　thinking　of　turning　in　and　Holmes　was　settling　down　to　one　of

those　all…night　chemical　researches　which　he　frequently　indulged　in；

when　I　would　leave　him　stooping　over　a　retort　and　a　test…tube　at　night

and　find　him　in　the　same　position　when　I　came　down　to　breakfast　in　the

morning。　He　opened　the　yellow　envelope；　and　then；　glancing　at　the

message；　threw　it　across　to　me。

　　〃Just　look　up　the　trains　in　Bradshaw；〃　said　he；　and　turned　back　to

his　chemical　studies。

　　The　summons　was　a　brief　and　urgent　one。



　　Please　be　at　the　Black　Swan　Hotel　at　Winchester　at　midday

to…morrow　＇it　said＇。　Do　come！　I　am　at　my　wit's　end。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HUNTER。



　　〃Will　you　come　with　me？〃　asked　Holmes；　glancing　up。

　　〃I　should　wish　to。〃

　　〃Just　look　it　up；　then。〃

　　〃There　is　a　train　at　half…past　nine；〃　said　I；　glancing　over　my

Bradshaw。　〃It　is　due　at　Winchester　at　11：3O。〃

　　〃That　will　do　very　nicely。　Then　perhaps　I　had　better　postpone　my

analysis　of　the　acetones；　as　we　may　need　to　be　at　our　best　in　the

morning。〃



　　By　eleven　o'clock　the　next　day　we　were　well　upon　our　way　to　the

old　English　capital。　Holmes　had　been　buried　in　the　morning　papers

all　the　way　down；　but　after　we　had　passed　the　Hampshire　border　he

threw　them　down　and　began　to　admire　the　scenery。　It　was　an　ideal

spring　day；　a　light　blue　sky；　flecked　with　little　fleecy　white

clouds　drifting　across　from　west　to　east。　The　sun　was　shining　very

brightly；　and　yet　there　was　an　exhilarating　nip　in　the　air；　which

set　an　edge　to　a　man's　energy。　All　over　the　countryside；　away　to　the

rolling　hills　around　Aldershot；　the　little　red　and　gray　roofs　of　the

farm…steadings　peeped　out　from　amid　the　light　green　of　the　new

foliage。

　　〃Are　they　not　fresh　and　beautiful？〃　I　cried　with　all　the

enthusiasm　of　a　man　fresh　from　the　fogs　of　Baker　Street。

　　But　Holmes　shook　his　head　gravely。

　　〃Do　you　know；　Watson；〃　said　he；　〃that　it　is　one　of　the　curses　of　a

mind　with　a　turn　like　mine　that　I　must　look　at　everything　with

reference　to　my　own　special　subject。　You　look　at　these　scattered

houses；　and　you　are　impressed　by　their　beauty。　I　look　at　them；　and　the

only　thought　which　comes　to　me　is　a　feeling　of　their　isolation　and

of　the　impunity　with　which　crime　may　be　committed　there。〃

　　〃Good　heavens！〃　I　cried。　〃Who　would　associate　crime　with　these

dear　old　homesteads？〃

　　〃They　always　fill　me　with　a　certain　horror。　It　is　my　belief；　Watson；

founded　upon　my　experience；　that　the　lowest　and　vilest　alleys　in

London　do　not　present　a　more　dreadful　record　of　sin　than　does　the

smiling　and　beautiful　countryside。〃

　　〃You　horrify　me！〃

　　〃But　the　reason　is　very　obvious。　The　pressure　of　public　opinion

can　do　in　the　town　what　the　law　cannot　accomplish。　There　is　no　lane　so

vile　that　the　scream　of　a　tortured　child；　or　the　thud　of　a

drunkard's　blow；　does　not　beget　sympathy　and　indignation　among　the

neighbours；　and　then　the　whole　machinery　of　justice　is　ever　so　close

that　a　word　of　complaint　can　set　it　going；　and　there　is　but　a　step

between　the　crime　and　the　dock。　But　look　at　these　lonely　houses；

each　in　its　own　fields；　filled　for　the　most　part　with　poor　ignorant

folk　who　know　little　of　the　law。　Think　of　the　deeds　of　hellish

cruelty；　the　hidden　wickedness　which　may　go　on；　year　in；　year　o