a single lady can get on very nicely upon an income of about 60.
I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you understand
that as long as I live at home I don t wish to be a burden to them, and
so they have the use of the money just while I am staying with them. Of
course, that is only just for the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest
every quarter and pays it over to mother, and I find that I can do
pretty well with what I earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a
sheet, and I can often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day.
You have made your position very clear to me, said Holmes. This is
my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as freely as before
myself. Kindly tell us now all about your connection with Mr. Hosmer
Angel.
A flush stole over Miss Sutherland s face, and she picked nervously at
the fringe of her jacket. I met him first at the gasfitters ball,
she said. They used to send father tickets when he was alive, and then
afterwards they remembered us, and sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank
did not wish us to go. He never did wish us to go anywhere. He would
get quite mad if I wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But
this time I was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to
prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all
father s friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing fit
to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much as taken
out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, he went off to
France upon the business of the firm, but we went, mother and I, with
Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it was there I met Mr.
Hosmer Angel.
I suppose, said Holmes, that when Mr. Windibank came back from
France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball.
Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and
shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying anything to a
woman, for she would have her way.
I see. Then at the gasfitters ball you met, as I understand, a
gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel.
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