〃You may imagine； Mr。 Holmes； that to me； destitute as I was； such
an offer seemed almost too good to be true。 The gentleman； however；
seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face； opened a
pocket…book and took out a note。
〃'It is also my custom；' said he； smiling in the most pleasant
fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the
white creases of his face； 'to advance to my young ladies half their
salary beforehand； so that they may meet any little expenses of
their journey and their wardrobe。'
〃It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so
thoughtful a man。 As I was already in debt to my tradesmen； the
advance was a great convenience； and Yet there was something unnatural
about the whole transaction which made me wish to know a little more
before I quite committed myself。
〃'May I ask where you live； sir？' said I。
〃'Hampshire。 Charming rural place。 The Copper Beeches； five miles on
the far side of Winchester。 It is the most lovely country； my dear
young lady； and the dearest old country…house。'
〃'And my duties； sir？ I should be glad to know what they would be。'
〃'One child…one dear little romper just six years old。 Oh； if you
could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper！ Smack！ smack！ smack！
Three gone before you could wink！' He leaned back in his chair and
laughed his eyes into his head again。
〃I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement； but
the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was joking。
〃'My sole duties； then；' I asked； 'are to take charge of a single
child？'
〃'No； no； not the sole； not the sole； my dear young lady；' he cried。
'Your duty would be； as I am sure your good sense would suggest； to
obey any little commands my wife might give； provided always that they
were such commands as a lady might with propriety 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 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 wom