“ ‘No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,’ hecried. ‘Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense wouldsuggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, providedalways that they were such commands as a lady might withpropriety 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 anydress which we might give you, you would not object to our littlewhim. 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 peculiartint of chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dreamof sacrificing it in this offhand fashion.
“ ‘I am afraid that that is quite impossible,’ said I. He hadbeen watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see ashadow pass over his face as I spoke.
“ ‘I am afraid that it is quite essential,’ said he. ‘It is a little fancyof my wife’s, and ladies’ fancies, you know, madam, ladies’ fanciesmust 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 youryoung ladies.’
“The manageress had sat all this while busy with her paperswithout a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with somuch annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspectingthat she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal.
“ ‘Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?’ sheasked.
“ ‘If you please, Miss Stoper.’
“ ‘Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the mostexcellent offers in this fashion,’ said she sharply. ‘You can hardlyexpect 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 foundlittle 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 obedienceon the most extraordinary matters, they were at least ready to payfor their eccentricity. Very few governesses in England are getting￡100 a year. Besides, what use was my hair to me? Many peopleare improved by wearing it short and perhaps I should be amongthe number. Next day I was inclined to think that I had madea mistake, and by the day after I was sure of it. I had almostovercome my pride so far as to go back to the agency and inquirewhether the place was still open when I received this letter fromthe 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 Iwrite from here to ask you whether you have reconsidered yourdecision. My wife is very anxious that you should come, forshe has been much attracted by my description of you. We arewilling to give ￡30 a quarter, or ￡120 a year, so as to recompenseyou for any little inconvenience which our fads may causeyou. They are not very exacting, after all. My wife is fond ofa particular shade of electric blue and would like you to wearsuch a dress indoors in the morning. You need not, however, goto the expense of purchasing one, as we have one belonging tomy dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which would, Ishould think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting here or there,or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that need causeyou no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no doubt apity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty duringour short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain firmupon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary mayrecompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child isconcerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall meetyou 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, andmy mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however,that before taking the final step I should like to submit the wholematter to your consideration.”
“Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles thequestion,” 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 asister of mine apply for.”
“What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?”
“Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourselfformed some opinion?”
“Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution.
Mr. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Isit not possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keepthe matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, andthat he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent anoutbreak?”
“That is a possible solution—in fact, as matters stand, it is themost probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a nicehousehold for a young lady.”
“But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!”
“Well, yes, of course the pay is good—too good. That is whatmakes me uneasy. Why should they give you ￡120 a year, whenthey could have their pick for ￡40? There must be some strongreason behind.”
“I thought that if I told you the circumstances you wouldunderstand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so muchstronger if I felt that you were at the back of me.”