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BEYOND THE CITY
BEYOND THE CITY
Arthur Conan Doyle
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BEYOND THE CITY
CHAPTER I。
THE NEW…COMERS。
〃If you please； mum；〃 said the voice of a domestic from somewhere
round the angle of the door； 〃number three is moving in。
Two little old ladies； who were sitting at either side of a table； sprang
to their feet with ejaculations of interest； and rushed to the window of the
sitting…room。
〃Take care； Monica dear；〃 said one； shrouding herself in the lace
curtain； 〃don't let them see us。
〃No； no； Bertha。 We must not give them reason to say that their
neighbors are inquisitive。 But I think that we are safe if we stand like
this。〃
The open window looked out upon a sloping lawn； well trimmed and
pleasant； with fuzzy rosebushes and a star…shaped bed of sweet…william。
It was bounded by a low wooden fence； which screened it off from a broad；
modern； new metaled road。 At the other side of this road were three large
detached deep…bodied villas with peaky eaves and small wooden balconies；
each standing in its own little square of grass and of flowers。 All three
were equally new； but numbers one and two were curtained and sedate；
with a human； sociable look to them； while number three； with yawning
door and unkempt garden； had apparently only just received its furniture
and made itself ready for its occupants。 A four…wheeler had driven up to
the gate； and it was at this that the old ladies； peeping out bird…like from
behind their curtains； directed an eager and questioning gaze。
The cabman had descended； and the passengers within were handing
out the articles which they desired him to carry up to the house。 He stood
red…faced and blinking； with his crooked arms outstretched； while a male
hand； protruding from the window； kept piling up upon him a series of
articles the sight of which filled the curious old ladies with bewilderment。
〃My goodness me！〃 cried Monica； the smaller； the drier； and the more
wizened of the pair。 〃What do you call that； Bertha？ It looks to me like
four batter puddings。〃
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BEYOND THE CITY
〃Those are what young men box each other with；〃 said Bertha； with a
conscious air of superior worldly knowledge。
〃And those？〃
Two great bottle…shaped pieces of yellow shining wood had been
heaped upon the cabman。
〃Oh； I don't know what those are；〃 confessed Bertha。 Indian clubs
had never before obtruded themselves upon her peaceful and very
feminine existence。
These mysterious articles were followed； however； by others which
were more within their； range of comprehensionby a pair of dumb…bells；
a purple cricket…bag； a set of golf clubs； and a tennis racket。 Finally；
when the cabman； all top…heavy and bristling； had staggered off up the
garden path； there emerged in a very leisurely way from the cab a big；
powerfully built young man； with a bull pup under one arm and a pink
sporting paper in his hand。 The paper he crammed into the pocket of his
light yellow dust…coat； and extended his hand as if to assist some one else
from the vehicle。 To the surprise of the two old ladies； however； the only
thing which his open palm received was a violent slap； and a tall lady
bounded unassisted out of the cab。 With a regal wave she motioned the
young man towards the door； and then with one hand upon her hip she
stood in a careless； lounging attitude by the gate； kicking her toe against
the wall and listlessly awaiting the return of the driver。
As she turned slowly round； and the sunshine struck upon her face； the
two watchers were amazed to see that this very active and energetic lady
was far from being in her first youth； so far that she had certainly come of
age again since she first passed that landmark in life's journey。 Her finely
chiseled； clean…cut face； with something red Indian about the firm mouth
and strongly marked cheek bones； showed even at that distance traces of
the friction of the passing years。 And yet she was very handsome。 Her
features were as firm in repose as those of a Greek bust； and her great dark
eyes were arched over by two brows so black； so thick； and so delicately
curved； that the eye turned away from the harsher details of the face to
marvel at their grace and strength。 Her figure； too； was straight as a dart；
a little portly； perhaps； but curving into magnificent outlines； which were
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BEYOND THE CITY
half accentuated by the strange costume which she wore。 Her hair； black
but plentifully shot with grey； was brushed plainly back from her high
forehead； and was gathered under a small round felt hat； like that of a man；
with one sprig of feather in the band as a concession to her sex。 A
double…breasted jacket of some dark frieze…like material fitted closely to
her figure； while her straight blue skirt； untrimmed and ungathered； was
cut so short that the lower curve of her finely…turned legs was plainly
visible beneath it； terminating in a pair of broad； flat； low…heeled and
square…toed shoes。 Such was the lady who lounged at the gate of number
three； under the curious eyes of her two opposite neighbors。
But if her conduct and appearance had already somewhat jarred upon
their limited and precise sense of the fitness of things； what were they to
think of the next little act in this tableau vivant？ The cabman； red and
heavy…jowled； had come back from his labors； and held out his hand for
his fare。 The lady passed him a coin； there was a moment of mumbling
and gesticulating； and suddenly she had him with both hands by the red
cravat which girt his neck； and was shaking him as a terrier would a rat。
Right across the pavement she thrust him； and； pushing him up against the
wheel； she banged his head three several times against the side of his own
vehicle。
〃Can I be of any use to you； aunt？〃 asked the large youth； framing
himself in the open doorway。
〃Not the slightest；〃 panted the enraged lady。 〃There； you low
blackguard； that will teach you to be impertinent to a lady。〃
The cabman looked helplessly about him with a bewildered；
questioning gaze； as one to whom alone of all men this unheard…of and
extraordinary thing had happened。 Then； rubbing his head； he mounted
slowly on to the box and drove away with an uptossed hand appealing to
the universe。 The lady smoothed down her dress； pushed back her hair
under her little felt hat； and strode in through the hall…door； which was
closed behind her。 As with a whisk her short skirts vanished into the
darkness； the two spectatorsMiss Bertha and Miss Monica Williamssat
looking at each other in speechless amazement。 For fifty years they had
peeped through that little window and across that trim garden； but never
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yet had such a sight as this come to confound them。
〃I wish；〃 said Monica at last； 〃that we had kept the field。〃
〃I am sure I wish we had；〃 answered her sister。
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BEYOND THE CITY
CHAPTER II。
BREAKING THE ICE。
The cottage from the window of which the Misses Williams had
looked out stands； and has stood for many a year； in that pleasant suburban
district which lies between Norwood； Anerley； and Forest Hill。 Long
before there had been a thought of a township there； when the Metropolis