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
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