the adventure of the copper beeches-第4章
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me in his dog…cart to the Copper Beeches。 It is； as he said；
beautifully situated； but it is not beautiful in itself； for it is a
large square block of a house； whitewashed； but all stained and
streaked with damp and bad weather。 There are grounds round it；
woods on three sides； and on the fourth a field which slopes down to
the Southampton highroad； which curves past about a hundred yards from
the front door。 This ground in front belongs to the house； but the
woods all round are part of Lord Southerton's preserves。 A clump of
copper beeches immediately in front of the hall door has given its
name to the place。
〃I was driven over by my employer； who was as amiable as ever； and
was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child。 There
was no truth； Mr。 Holmes； in the conjecture which seemed to us to be
probable in your rooms at Baker Street。 Mrs。 Rucastle is not mad。 I
found her to be a silent； pale…faced woman； much younger than her
husband； not more than thirty； I should think； while he can hardly
be less than forty…five。 From their conversation I have gathered
that they have been married about seven years； that he was a
widower； and that his only child by the first wife was the daughter
who has gone to Philadelphia。 Mr。 Rucastle told me in private that the
reason why she had left them was that she had an unreasoning
aversion to her stepmother。 As the daughter could not have been less
than twenty； I can quite imagine that her position must have been
uncomfortable with her father's young wife。
〃Mrs。 Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as in
feature。 She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse。 She
was a nonentity。 It was easy to see that she was passionately
devoted both to her husband and to her little son。 Her light gray eyes
wandered continually from one to the other； noting every little want
and forestalling it if possible。 He was kind to her also in his bluff；
boisterous fashion； and on the whole they seemed to be a happy couple。
And yet she had some secret sorrow； this woman。 She would often be
lost in deep thought； with the saddest look upon her face。 More than
once I have surprised her in tears。 I have thought sometimes that it
was the disposition of her child which weighed upon her mind； for I
have never met so utterly spoiled and so ill…natured a little
creature。 He is small for his age； with a head which is quite
disproportionately large。 His whole life appears to be spent in an
alternation between savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of
sulking。 Giving pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be
his one idea of amusement； and he shows quite remarkable talent in
planning the capture of mice； little birds； and insects。 But I would
rather not talk about the creature； Mr。 Holmes； and； indeed； he has
little to do with my story。〃
〃I am glad of all details；〃 remarked my friend； 〃whether they seem
to you to be relevant or not。〃
〃I shall try not to miss anything of importance。 The one
unpleasant thing about the house； which struck me at once； was the
appearance and conduct of the servants。 There are only two； a man
and his wife。 Toller； for that is his name； is a rough； uncouth man；
with grizzled hair and whiskers； and a perpetual smell of drink。 Twice
since I have been with them he has been quite drunk； and yet Mr。
Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it。 His wife is a very tall and
strong woman with a sour face； as silent as Mrs。 Rucastle and much
less amiable。 They are a most unpleasant couple； but fortunately I
spend most of my time in the nursery and my own room； which are next
to each other in one corner of the building。
〃For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was
very quiet； on the third； Mrs。 Rucastle came down just after breakfast
and whispered something to her husband。
〃'Oh； yes；' said he； turning to me； 'we are very much obliged to
you； Miss Hunter； for falling in with our whims so far as to cut
your hair。 I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest
iota from your appearance。 We shall now see how the electric…blue
dress will become you。 You will find it laid out upon the bed in
your room； and if you would be so good as to put it on we should
both be extremely obliged。'
〃The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade of
blue。 It was of excellent material； a sort of beige but it bore
unmistakable signs of having been worn before。 It could not have
been a better fit if I had been measured for it。 Both Mr。 and Mrs。
Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it； which seemed quite
exaggerated in its vehemence。 They were waiting for me in the
drawing…room； which is a very large room； stretching along the
entire front of the house； with three long windows reaching down to
the floor。 A chair had been placed close to the central window； with
its back turned towards it。 In this I was asked to sit； and then Mr。
Rucastle； walking up and down on the other side of the room； began
to tell me a series of the funniest stories that I have ever
listened to。 You cannot imagine how comical he was； and I laughed
until I was quite weary。 Mrs。 Rucastle； however； who has evidently
no sense of humour； never so much as smiled； but sat with her hands in
her lap； and a sad； anxious look upon her face。 After an hour or so；
Mr。 Rucastle suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties
of the day； and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward
in the nursery。
〃Two days later this same performance was gone through under exactly
similar circumstances。 Again I changed my dress； again I sat in the
window； and again I laughed very heartily at the funny stories of
which my employer had an immense repertoire； and which he told
inimitably。 Then he handed me a yellow…backed novel； and moving my
chair a little sideways； that my own shadow might not fall upon the
page； he begged me to read aloud to him。 I read for about ten minutes；
beginning in the heart of a chapter； and then suddenly； in the
middle of a sentence； he ordered me to cease and to change my dress。
〃You can easily imagine； Mr。 Holmes； how curious I became as to what
the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly be。
They were always very careful； I observed； to turn my face away from
the window； so that I became consumed with the desire to see what
was going on behind my back。 At first it seemed to be impossible；
but I soon devised a means。 My hand…mirror had been broken； so a happy
thought seized me； and I concealed a piece of the glass in my
handkerchief。 On the next occasion； in the midst of my laughter； I put
my handkerchief up to my eyes； and was able with a little management
to see all that there was behind me。 I confess that I was
disappointed。 There was nothing。 At least that was my first
impression。 At the second glance； however； I perceived that there
was a man standing in the Southampton Road； a small bearded man in a
gray suit； who seemed to be looking in my direction。 The road is an
important highway； and there are usually people there。 This man；
however； was leaning against the railings which bordered our field and
was looking earnestly up。 I lowered my handkerchief and glanced at
Mrs。 Rucastle to find her eyes fixed upon me with a most searching
gaze。 She said nothing； but I am convinced that she had divined that I
had a mirror in my hand and had seen what was behind me。 She rose at
once。
〃'Jephro；' said she； 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the road
there who stares up at Miss Hunter。'
〃'No friend of yours； Miss Hunter？' he asked。
〃'No； I know no one in these parts。'
〃'Dear me！ How very impertinent！ Kindly turn round and motion to him
to go away。'
〃'Surely it would be better to take no notice。'
〃'No； no； we should have him loitering here always。 Kindly turn
round and wave him away like that。'
〃I did as I was told； and at the same instant Mrs。 Rucastle drew
down the blind。 That was a week ago； and from that time I have not sat
again in the window； nor have I worn the b
