Page 59 - @ccess3_Readers Book

in an accident eight years ago. So, my stepfather got all her
money, but if Julia or I marry, he must pay
Glossary on
us £250 every year.' wild
'And now you live with him in the country,' page 94
said Holmes.
'Yes, but he stays at home and never sees anybody, Mr.
Holmes!' answered Helen Stoner. 'He's more and more
violent now, and sometimes has fights with the people from
the village. Everybody's afraid of him now, and they run
away when they see him. And they're also afraid of his wild
Indian animals which run freely around the garden. A friend
sends them to him from India. And the animals are not the
only wild things in the garden; there are also gypsies. My
stepfather likes these wild people, and they can come and
go where they like. Poor Julia and I had very unhappy lives.
We had no servants. They always left because they were
afraid of my stepfather, and we had to do all the work in the
house. Julia was only thirty when she died, and her hair was
already grey, like my hair now.'
gypsies (n.):
'When did she die?' asked gitanos
Sherlock Holmes.

'She died two years ago, and that's why I'm here. We never
met anybody in the country, but sometimes we visited some
of my family who live near London. There, Julia met a young
man who asked to marry her. My stepfather agreed, but
soon after this she died.' Miss Stoner put her hand over her
eyes and cried for a minute.

Sherlock Holmes was listening with his eyes closed, but now
he opened them and looked at Helen Stoner.
'Tell me everything about her death,' he said.

'I can remember it all very well. It was a terrible time!' she
answered. 'Our three bedrooms are all downstairs. First
there is my stepfather's room. Julia's room is next to his, and

Reader's Book 57