Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
"Well,letushopeso. Butourdoubtswillverysoonbesolved,forhere,unlessIammuchmistaken,isthepersoninquestion."
Ashespokethedooropenedandayoungladyenteredtheroom. Shewasplainlybutneatlydressed,withabright,quickface,freckledlikeaplover’segg,andwiththebriskmannerofawomanwhohashadherownwaytomakeintheworld.
"Youwillexcusemytroublingyou,Iamsure,"saidshe,asmycompanionrosetogreether,"butIhavehadaverystrangeexperience,andasIhavenoparentsorrelationsofanysortfromwhomIcouldaskadvice,IthoughtthatperhapsyouwouldbekindenoughtotellmewhatIshoulddo."
"Praytakeaseat,MissHunter. IshallbehappytodoanythingthatIcantoserveyou."
IcouldseethatHolmeswasfavourablyimpressedbythemannerandspeechofhisnewclient. Helookedheroverinhissearchingfashion,andthencomposedhimself,withhislidsdroopingandhisfinger-tipstogether,tolistentoherstory.
"Ihavebeenagovernessforfiveyears,"saidshe,"inthefamilyofColonelSpenceMunro,buttwomonthsagothecolonelreceivedanappointmentatHalifax,inNovaScotia,andtookhischildrenovertoAmericawithhim,sothatIfoundmyselfwithoutasituation. Iadvertised,andIansweredadvertisements,butwithoutsuccess. AtlastthelittlemoneywhichIhadsavedbegantorunshort,andIwasatmywit’sendastowhatIshoulddo.
"Thereisawell-knownagencyforgovernessesintheWestEndcalledWestaway’s,andthereIusedtocallaboutonceaweekinordertoseewhetheranythinghadturnedupwhichmightsuitme.
