"'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a singlechild?'
"'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, youknow--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dresswhich 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 toyou?'
"'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 ofchestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream ofsacrificing it in this offhand fashion.
"'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had beenwatching 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 alittle fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam,ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut yourhair?'
"'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly.
"'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is apity, because in other respects you would really have done verynicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few moreof your young 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?' she asked.
"'If you please, Miss Stoper.'
"'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse themost excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'Youcan hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another suchopening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gongupon 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 thetable, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a veryfoolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads andexpected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they wereat least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very fewgovernesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides,what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearingit short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I wasinclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day afterI was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to goback to the agency and inquire whether the place was still openwhen I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have ithere and I will read it to you:
"'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester."'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me youraddress, and I write from here to ask you whether you havereconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that youshould come, for she has been much attracted by my description ofyou. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds ayear, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience whichour fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. Mywife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and wouldlike you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You neednot, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have onebelonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), whichwould, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sittinghere or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, thatneed cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is nodoubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beautyduring our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remainfirm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salarymay recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the childis concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shallmeet 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, andmy mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however,that before taking the final step I should like to submit thewhole matter 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 tosee 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 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. Is it notpossible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep thematter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and thathe humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent anoutbreak?"
"That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it isthe most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be anice household 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 pounds a year, whenthey could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be somestrong reason behind."
"I thought that if I told you the circumstances you wouldunderstand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel somuch stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me."