DarqueDante/test2 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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"'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 £100
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 £30 a quarter, or
£120 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

"'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 £100

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 £30 a quarter, or

£120 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