“But although we were as happy there as we could be, and Edwin was beginning to overcome the sadness that had blighted his young life, I could not help but notice that not everything at East Harrington was as it should have been.” She paused a moment before continuing. “You will appreciate that I should not under any other circumstances repeat these things. My uncle and aunt seemed, to my surprise, to have little to do with each other. I had been used, I suppose, to the closeness of spirit of my own mother and father, and had imagined that all those who are married enjoy such a degree of intimacy of opinion, taste and so on. I was soon disabused of this notion. My uncle spent much of his time away, in London or at race meetings, and when he was at home he spent more time in the stables than in the house. He spoke little to my aunt, and even that little would perhaps have been better left unsaid, for I saw her often in tears, and came at length to know that this meant they had been ‘having a discussion’, as she referred to it. At last it became very clear that the only time my aunt was truly happy was when my uncle was away.

“A particular circumstance that often caused rifts between them concerned the company my uncle kept. For he would often bring a party of people home with him from London or from his sporting travels. It was clear that my aunt considered that she and they had little of common interest, and her attempts to be sociable to these people gradually diminished as she found that her advances were generally rebuffed. Besides, her husband did not appear to care one way or the other whether she was sociable or not, for when he had guests in the house he paid her no attention whatever. Most frequent among these guests, and perhaps most objectionable, too, was Captain Fitzclarence Legbourne Legge, a racing crony of my uncle’s. Whenever Captain Legbourne Legge was at East Harrington, my uncle would generally spend days on end drinking and playing cards, and shouting abuse at any of the household who had the misfortune to venture near him.

“Captain Legbourne Legge is to me, as I know he was to my aunt, an odious man. He has a fat face, which wobbles when he speaks, and he encourages my uncle in vicious pursuits. His presence always marks a severe deterioration in Mr Hartley Lessingham’s manner, and in the atmosphere of the household generally.”

“Was Miss Rogerson ever present at these social gatherings, while your aunt was at East Harrington?” Holmes enquired.

“I can remember at least one such occasion,” the girl replied, nodding her head. “It was early last December, just after the race meeting at Cantwell Heath. A large party had returned to East Harrington, including Captain Legbourne Legge, Miss Rogerson, Lord Waddle, Sir Arthur Pegge, and several other equally unpleasant people. My uncle had been involved in an unfortunate incident at the meeting, in which another rider had been badly injured.”

“We have heard of that,” Holmes interposed.

“Then perhaps you have also heard that the man, Mr Jackie Weston, may never walk again. Aunt Margaret had had word of this, and approached her husband to suggest that some money be sent to the unfortunate man, but my uncle would not countenance such a suggestion. ‘Certainly not!’ cried he in a tone of indignation. ‘The fool was in my way!’ Then he laughed loudly in her face. I chanced to be present, and it was the most unpleasant scene I have ever witnessed. All my uncle’s cronies joined in the laughter, until the drawing room was filled with the noise of their horrible braying. My aunt went as white as a sheet and I thought she would faint. Then Miss Rogerson stepped forward, with a supercilious smirk upon her face that was hideous to see, and said, ‘You see, Mrs Hartley Lessingham, other men may compete, but your husband wins.’ At which the whole room thereupon burst into further odious laughter, Miss Rogerson foremost among them. My aunt turned on her heel and left the room at once, and I followed her as quickly as I could, for I was very frightened.

“After that, there was no peace in the house. The Christmas season was poisoned by the presence of Captain Legbourne Legge and his friends, and by the constant quarrels that occurred between my aunt and uncle. Then, on New Year’s Eve, following a quarrel of unusual ferocity even for that household, my aunt packed a trunk and declared that she could not bear to remain under the roof of East Harrington Hall for a single night longer. She instructed the servants to pack trunks for Edwin and me, but our uncle stopped us at the door and forbade us to go. Further words ensued between my aunt and uncle, and in the end, with a look of great fear upon her face and tears in her eyes, my aunt departed alone, begging me to forgive her and telling me that she would send for Edwin and me just as soon as she had got herself established somewhere.

“A few days after my aunt had left us, my uncle evidently regretted his sharp words and hasty actions, for he fell into a mood of great depression. For several days he remained in his study and spoke to no one. Eventually he emerged, a chastened look upon his face.

“‘I think,’ said he to me, ‘that the words which passed between your aunt and me have caused much trouble and wounded us both severely. But it may not be too late to redeem the situation. I think I shall go and try to persuade her to return.’

“‘You know her whereabouts, then, Uncle?’ I asked, my hopes rising.

“‘I had a letter from her yesterday morning,’ he replied. ‘She is staying in a hotel in London. You would like her to return, I dare say.’

“‘Indeed,’ I cried. ‘Nothing would give me greater pleasure!’

“My uncle nodded his head at my words, as if his mind were then made up. He at once ordered the carriage to be got ready, and within the hour he had left for the railway station.”

“Do you know the contents of the letter your uncle received?” interposed Holmes.

Miss Borrow shook her head. “I asked if I might see it, but he informed me that it contained nothing that would be of interest to me, being private matter.”

“Very well. Pray continue.”

“For two days I heard nothing further. Then, on the evening of the third day, my uncle returned, but he returned alone. His expression was one of bitter resignation. ‘She refused to come back to us,’ was the only answer he would give to my questions. I was disappointed beyond description, and could not help but cry. At this my uncle became very angry. ‘Do not waste your tears,’ said he in a harsh voice. ‘Save them for a worthier cause!’ Then he went into his study and slammed the door shut behind him. From that day on, Edwin and I were forbidden to ever mention Aunt Margaret’s name again.

“That night I cried myself to sleep. After that, I saw nothing before us but patient endurance. We were living in a place that was not our home, with neither friends nor friendly relations, and with a guardian who clearly cared nothing for us. But at least Edwin and I still had each other. I became determined to make the best of the circumstances in which Fate had placed us.

“At that time, of course, Mr Theakston was still our tutor, and I am sure that we benefited greatly from his kind tuition. And if it was a pleasure to us to learn all about Literature and Geography, History and Botany, it appeared an equal pleasure to Mr Theakston to teach us, so that we tried hard – even Edwin – to do nothing that might disappoint him. When he left, in the abrupt circumstances I have described to you, another support was removed from our lonely existence. Miss Rogerson then took upon herself the duties of tutor, as I have mentioned, but it was clear she had no interest whatever in her new post. It thus fell to me to supplement the meagre education Edwin received at her hands. He had so often seen Mr Hartley Lessingham and his friends at cards, at all hours of the day and night, that he had developed a morbid interest in the subject and begged me to teach him some card games. Endeavouring to derive good from bad, I therefore decided to teach him some different types of patience – there is a book in the library at East Harrington, which contains instructions for many such games – in the hope that it might help his understanding of arithmetic and similar subjects.”