Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
"Whatcanyounotunderstand?"
"Theirreasonsfortheirconduct. Butyoushallhaveitalljustasitoccurred. WhenIcamedown,Mr.Rucastlemetmehereanddrovemeinhisdog-carttotheCopperBeeches. Itis,ashesaid,beautifullysituated,butitisnotbeautifulinitself,foritisalargesquareblockofahouse,whitewashed,butallstainedandstreakedwithdampandbadweather. Therearegroundsroundit,woodsonthreesides,andonthefourthafieldwhichslopesdowntotheSouthamptonhighroad,whichcurvespastaboutahundredyardsfromthefrontdoor. Thisgroundinfrontbelongstothehouse,butthewoodsallroundarepartofLordSoutherton’spreserves. Aclumpofcopperbeechesimmediatelyinfrontofthehalldoorhasgivenitsnametotheplace.
"Iwasdrivenoverbymyemployer,whowasasamiableasever,andwasintroducedbyhimthateveningtohiswifeandthechild. Therewasnotruth,Mr.Holmes,intheconjecturewhichseemedtoustobeprobableinyourroomsatBakerStreet. Mrs.Rucastleisnotmad. Ifoundhertobeasilent,pale-facedwoman,muchyoungerthanherhusband,notmorethanthirty,Ishouldthink,whilehecanhardlybelessthanforty-five. FromtheirconversationIhavegatheredthattheyhavebeenmarriedaboutsevenyears,thathewasawidower,andthathisonlychildbythefirstwifewasthedaughterwhohasgonetoPhiladelphia. Mr.Rucastletoldmeinprivatethatthereasonwhyshehadleftthemwasthatshehadanunreasoningaversiontoherstepmother. Asthedaughtercouldnothavebeenlessthantwenty,Icanquiteimagine-thatherpositionmusthavebeenuncomfortablewithherfather’syoungwife.
"Mrs.Rucastleseemedtometobecolourlessinmindaswellasinfeature. Sheimpressedmeneitherfavourablynorthereverse. Shewasanonentity. Itwaseasytoseethatshewaspassionatelydevotedbothtoherhusbandandtoherlittleson.
