I have advertised in the newspapers my name and address, and stated that I was searching for employment, preferably as a governess. Today I received a notification from a Mrs. Cecil Forrester, and that she would be pleased to obtain a governess for her two little girls, aged 6 and 9. She said my salary would consist of 75 pounds per year; heavens above!
I think I am going to reply to Mrs. Forrester and accept her offer. It could possibly be the only one I ever have.
A peculiar incident occurred this morning. I had just returned from the postal office with my letter from Mrs. Forrester when I noticed a copy of what appeared to be a magazine by my door; when I looked closer, I saw it was The Strand magazine. I was puzzled, for I had never subscribed to such an establishment. The address inscribed upon it was Mr. Arnold's.
I decided to take it in with my letter; I was sure Mr. Arnold would have no objection. I was currently searching for new reading material as it was. One can read Poe only so many times…on the cover was an illustration of two men sitting in what looked like a sitting room with a great hearth in between them. One, a man with black hair and long, thin legs stretched out towards the fire, was smoking a pipe; the other, who appeared well-built with brown hair and a moustache of the same color, was writing in a journal of some sort. In large bold letters was written The Five Orange Pips. What an odd phrase.
I opened the magazine to the page marking the beginning of what revealed to be a mystery. The main characters, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, were brought a case by a young man threatened with five orange pips after his father dies following the receipt of a similar threat. Reading on, I found myself captivated by such description of emotion, and shocked at the rate of deduction Sherlock Holmes possessed. The solution to the case proved to be a satisfying conclusion for me; I had heard of an organization known as the K.K.K. before, and it did not seem unwonted for them to resort to such measures to regain important papers.
The strangest aspect to the story was the striking differences between the two men. Sherlock Holmes, from what I read of him, seemed an arrogant, unfeeling man who possessed the brain of a genius; if it weren't for the presence of Doctor Watson, Sherlock Holmes would never gain such a clientele, I'm sure. The doctor, in contrast, was more likeable, charming, and intelligent in his own right; a very successful doctor, and he seemed to humble his companion a great deal. It amused me how such a friendship between such diverse men could come to be.
I believe I am going to subscribe to The Strand. These exploits of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are quite exciting…Father would have enjoyed them immensely.
