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ElapticAI-512

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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
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 £ 120 a year, when they could have
their pick for £ 40? 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