Собака Баскервіллів
The Stapletons of Merripit House
Andyet,ifitwerenotforthelossofthecharmingcompanionshipoftheboys,Icouldrejoiceovermyownmisfortune, for,withmystrongtastesforbotanyandzoology,Ifindanunlimitedfieldofworkhere,andmysisterisasdevotedtoNatureasIam. Allthis,Dr.Watson,hasbeenbroughtuponyourheadbyyourexpressionasyousurveyedthemooroutofourwindow."
"Itcertainlydidcrossmymindthatitmightbealittledull—lessforyou,perhaps,thanforyoursister."
"No,no,Iamneverdull,"saidshe,quickly.
"Wehavebooks,wehaveourstudies,andwehaveinterestingneighbours. Dr.Mortimerisamostlearnedmaninhisownline. PoorSirCharleswasalsoanadmirablecompanion. Weknewhimwell,andmisshimmorethanIcantell. DoyouthinkthatIshouldintrudeifIweretocallthisafternoonandmaketheacquaintanceofSirHenry?"
"Iamsurethathewouldbedelighted."
"ThenperhapsyouwouldmentionthatIproposetodoso. Wemayinourhumblewaydosomethingtomakethingsmoreeasyforhimuntilhebecomesaccustomedtohisnewsurroundings. Willyoucomeupstairs,Dr.Watson,andinspectmycollectionofLepidoptera? Ithinkitisthemostcompleteoneinthesouth-westofEngland. Bythetimethatyouhavelookedthroughthemlunchwillbealmostready."
ButIwaseagertogetbacktomycharge. Themelancholyofthemoor,thedeathoftheunfortunatepony,theweirdsoundwhichhadbeenassociatedwiththegrimlegendoftheBaskervilles,allthesethingstingedmythoughtswithsadness. ThenonthetopofthesemoreorlessvagueimpressionstherehadcomethedefiniteanddistinctwarningofMissStapleton, deliveredwithsuchintenseearnestnessthatIcouldnotdoubtthatsomegraveanddeepreasonlaybehindit.
