I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

After the dinner, Pei Xiang asked the housekeeper Jason some things about Leah, mainly her hometown and relatives.After getting some simple information, Pei Xiang went back to his room to rest.

The next morning, Mrs. Caroline proposed that three days later, there would be a charitable donation event in the county, the main purpose of which was to raise money to help local orphans and the elderly.The Gladstones are required to be present and to speak.

At the same time, there is a well-received art exhibition in the city center, and she invites the guests in the manor to visit it together.

The guests naturally readily agreed to the hostess's proposal, and expressed that they would do their part in the charitable donation activities.

After that, they talked about the art exhibition in the county.

A major said excitedly: "Is it Mr. Mikel's art exhibition? I heard about it when I was a guest in Liverpool. Critics in London often expressed their opinions. I was very curious at the time, but because of some I couldn’t get away from it, and I thought I would miss the exhibition of Mr. Mikel’s works, but I didn’t expect to encounter a traveling exhibition here. I’m so lucky.”

Mrs. Seymour smiled slightly: "The Baron Oakes tried his best to facilitate this matter. In our county, no one is more enthusiastic about painting art than Mr. Oakes. He personally visited Mr. Mickle in London and helped him organize a traveling exhibition. "

"Thank you, Mr. Oakes, for making this possible..."

Pei Xiang sat on the chair in a regular manner, seemingly listening to everyone's discussion seriously, and smiling and nodding from time to time, but her erratic eyes had already betrayed her heart, this girl was obviously not interested in the art exhibition.

At this time, Mrs. Caroline glanced over with a calm look, and Pei Xiang immediately recovered.She changed her sitting posture without any trace, making herself appear more elegant and decent.

"Doris has recently developed a strong interest in the art of painting, but enthusiasm is not enough. She still lacks a lot of theoretical knowledge. Mr. Holmes, if possible, could I trouble you to take care of Doris? Let me mention one or two points when she is appreciating the art exhibition, so that my eldest daughter will not be confused."

Mycroft glanced at Pei Xiang and found that she exuded a "so boring" aura from head to toe, then nodded gently, promising to introduce Mr. Mickle's works to Miss Gladstone.

Everyone finalized their itinerary for going out in three days. Someone proposed to go for a walk in the woods near Gladstone Manor. Some guests responded positively, but some declined the outdoor activities and planned to spend time indoors.

So, everyone dispersed.

Mrs. Caroline and Second Miss Jane led the guests out for a tour, and Pei Xiang immediately said that she was going to study in the study. Then, without waiting for Mrs. Caroline to say anything, she left with a smile and left the living room quickly.

No one believed that Miss Gladstone would really read a book. Everyone smiled kindly and went about their own business.

However, Pei Xiang really went to her small study.She turned out some unmarked letter paper and began to write letters seriously.

After a while, she folded the letter and filled in the recipient's name and address according to the information in the local newspaper. Then she took out a book from the shelf and read it with interest.

Before lunch, Pei Xiang staggered the crowd returning from going out, and found a servant the old earl used to: "Hanks, do something for me."

"Yes, ma'am."

Pei Xiang handed the letter to Hanks and told him to deliver the letter to the post office in the town before dinner.

"Hanks, will Butler Jason send you to go out with us at the charity donation event in three days?"

Hanks glanced at Pei Xiang, and said in a firm tone, "Miss, I can win this opportunity, what's your order?"

"On the day I go to the city to play, I will ask a gentleman to come to you with my token, and you will follow him to do business."

"Okay, I will follow that gentleman's orders, Miss, what should I call him?"

Pei Xiang thought for a while: "Call him Mr. Claus."

After giving orders, Pei Xiang asked Hanks some more things, mainly about the recent situation of the servants left by the old earl.

In Hanks' narration, Pei Xiang learned that, except for the old housekeeper and two elderly stewards who returned home for retirement, several other male servants are still serving in the manor.However, they have gradually ceased to appear in front of their masters, and they have all been pushed out to marginal positions without a trace.

"Is it the housekeeper Jason's arrangement?" The eldest lady frowned dissatisfiedly, "I said that I haven't seen you all recently, at the dinner yesterday, the servant who served the first meat dish was not you, so I will It's weird."

Hanks was amazed that the young lady could notice such details.

However, he thought that after the old earl left, even though he left a generous dowry to the eldest lady, it was different from when the old man was alive. It is understandable that the eldest lady felt the gap and became more sensitive.

"Miss, my height and appearance are not as good as William's, so I can't be the first manservant."

Pei Xiang pretended to believe what Hanks said, and sighed at his ordinary appearance: "In this case, you can run errands for me."

After talking with Hanks, Pei Xiang told him again, must remember to post the letter before dinner, and then she returned to the main house along the tree-lined path.

After lunch, Pei Xiang met Mrs. Murray, the housekeeper, in the corridor, and pretended to be enthusiastic and asked for a day off for the maid Leah.She said that since Liya was injured, why not let Liya take the opportunity to rest for an extra day on the day when everyone went out.

Mrs. Morrie asked strangely: "Miss Doris, don't you like Leah to accompany you the most? I thought you must take Leah with you when you go out this time. Actually, according to the original arrangement, She can stay in the manor for a proper rest that day, but considering your love for her, I'm planning to reschedule her."

Pei Xiang smiled and shook his head: "No need to make special arrangements, Mrs. Murray, I recently found out that Lucy is also very good, let Lucy follow me on the day I go out. Of course, I don't hate Leah, I just care about her injury." Well, Mrs. Murray, just give Leah a day off, and let her arrange her own time, as my Christmas present to her."

Mrs. Murray frowned disapprovingly, but she would not reject the lady's kind suggestion, so she nodded: "I will inform Leah."

"By the way, Mrs. Murray, do you know when Miss Winster and Mr. Howard will hold their wedding ceremony? Where are they going to hold the ceremony?"

"The exact date hasn't been fixed yet, but it should be within the next month. As for the location, I think it's probably in a small church in the suburbs of London. Miss Doris, you don't need to care about them, Countess It would not allow anyone in our family to attend their wedding, and it is very humane to tolerate them living in the manor until the end of Christmas."

Pei Xiang smiled indifferently, saying that he was just curious and had no plans to go to the church to watch the ceremony.

The two were talking, and Liya came from another direction, and when she saw Pei Xiang and Mrs. Murray, she bowed politely.

"Miss Doris, Ma'am is in the living room, she invites you to come over."

The smile on Pei Xiang's face froze all of a sudden, she reluctantly agreed, and then, under Mrs. Murray's serious eyes, slowly moved towards Mrs. Caroline's living room.

After seeing Mrs. Caroline, Pei Xiang patiently listened to her praise of Mycroft for a while.When she was feeling bored, she heard the countess suggest to her that she hoped that she could grasp the fiancé-to-be and not miss a good marriage because of her willfulness.

"Although Mr. Holmes has no title to inherit, as the eldest son of a squire, he can inherit the family's manor and real estate. The most important thing is that he himself has a great future and is highly regarded. It is said that Her Majesty the Queen also summoned him alone After a long talk, praise him more. Doris, a gentleman like Mr. Holmes, will sooner or later enter the ranks of nobles, and it is definitely a very honorable thing to be awarded the title for meritorious service."

Pei Xiang said absently and perfunctorily: "Okay, Mom, I will work hard."

Mrs. Caroline could see Pei Xiang's indifference at a glance. She took a deep breath and wanted to continue persuading her, but when she thought of Mr. Holmes' lukewarm attitude, she couldn't say a lot. up.

Seeing the right time, Pei Xiang got up and left immediately, not giving the Countess any chance to continue lobbying.

Three days later, the group from Gladstone Manor set off in a carriage.

Their plan today is to go to a charity event first, and then go to appreciate Mr. Mikel's painting exhibition.

In the evening, they will listen to a high-quality concert in a water theater in the city. After the end, everyone will rest in the suburban garden villa of the Gladstone family for one night, and then return to Gladstone Manor the next day.

Pei Xiang was sitting in the carriage, looking down at the morning newspaper of the day, this behavior aroused the curiosity of Jane who was in the same carriage.

"Doris, is there anything particularly interesting in today's morning paper?"

Pei Xiang said without raising his head: "I'm reading a serial novel. The protagonist is very good at maintenance and has many wonderful adventures. I really like it."

Upon hearing this explanation, Jane Gladstone ceased to be curious.She looked at the scenery outside the window for a while, remembered her mother's advice before leaving, and said again:

"Doris, when you go to visit the art exhibition in the afternoon, listen to Mr. Holmes' opinions more. It doesn't matter if you don't understand, just keep smiling and praise him for his knowledge. If you don't agree with something, don't say it. What's on your mind, okay?"

"I don't like that, Jane."

"But Mother asks you to do that, and I think it will do you good, too, Doris, and we do it for your own good."

Pei Xiang looked away from the newspaper, looked at Jane for a while, and then asked in an affirmative tone:

"Jane, you don't like this, do you? You smile forcedly. I see, you're forcing yourself to accept your mother's ways and ideas again, aren't you? It's been like this since you were a child, I told you before, mother Some of what she said doesn’t always make sense, just listen to it and don’t take it to heart. Just like the way she treats her father, there is no need to be so polite. She is obviously unhappy, but she doesn’t express it, just for the sake of face, how annoying .”

"However, my mother became a highly praised countess, and no one said she was bad. My father also handed over the management of Gladstone Manor to my mother, making her a veritable mistress."

Pei Xiang curled her lips in an unladylike way, and said in Doris' usual upright tone:

"I don't care about these, I just need to live my own life well. Jane, although you don't have as much dowry as mine, it's still quite a lot. In the future, you don't have to depend on others or the generosity of gentlemen to live your life. You don't need to study at all. It's what my mother did. Think about it, how uncomfortable it is, don't we live for the sake of face?

"For example, in today's art exhibition, Jane, I don't know any techniques, but I know which painting can impress me, and which painting makes me feel boring. If what Mr. Holmes said is in line with my heart, I will naturally Agree with him, if he's bored or has to say something in front of me that I don't understand, I'll definitely turn around and leave."

Jane rubbed her forehead wearily: "You think things too simply, Doris. We must always learn restraint and patience. Some of the mother's practices finally proved that she is always right. Doris, I don’t regret studying and imitating these years at all. I hope to be a lady with a strong mind like my mother. She is the actual center of a family. She is an angel who maintains harmony and warmth in the family. She has been affirmed and praised by everyone. Such sacrifice and dedication."

"Not everyone," Pei Xiang snorted, "at least, that Mrs. Aurora in London doesn't think so."

"Doris!" Jane raised her voice slightly.

"Okay, okay, you are like a sister. Jane, let me tell you, we have chosen different paths, I won't bother you, and you don't always want to restrain me. In this way, we can both be happy Happy. Of course, for the sake of being my sister, if you feel that your life is too boring in the future, you can move closer to me."

When Jane Gladstone was alone with her elder sister who grew up together, she would not be as gentle and elegant as usual. At this time, she did not restrain the true edges and corners of her temper, and laughed softly:

"Closer to you? Doris, you have grandfather's preference, of course you have willful capital, how can I get closer to you?"

Pei Xiang blinked, first puzzled, then shook his head:

"It almost confuses you. Jane, I was like this when my grandfather didn't favor me, and before his will was announced, who knew he would leave me so much money? But, in Didn’t I have this temper before that? You are not authentic. Oh, don’t make excuses for yourself. You have a lot of dowry. As long as you don’t eat pearls as a meal, who will make you live a hard life ? After all, you still can’t think about it yourself.”

"I just think a little deeper."

"Far-reaching? It sounds like you're planning a great career, Jane. Do you regard your future marriage as a job? It's the kind of... well, a profitable business that can be managed with care."

Jane frowned: "Your analogy is a bit vulgar. However, it seems to be more or less the same. Doesn't mother manage our family very well?"

"You think it's good?" Pei Xiang gave Jane a strange look: "Oh, then you are really broad-minded. Anyway, I will definitely not be so complacent in the future. What about Aurora Oros, a man with a heart, Fuck off!"

Jane choked on Pei Xiang's rude words, leaned back in the chair angrily, turned her head and said nothing.

Pei Xiang was so happy that he picked up the half-read newspaper and read it again.

She's not really interested in serializing the story, but because she needs to get some information from today's morning paper.

The letter she had asked the servant Hanks to send for him was actually addressed to a well-known private detective in the county.

In the letter, she asked the other party to help her check the maid Leah, who she has been in contact with recently, where she has been and who she has met when she left the manor on leave.

In the letter, she paid one-third of the remuneration, and promised that after the private investigator published the information she had investigated in the morning newspaper in a certain form, within five days, the other party would receive another three two-thirds of the reward.

The remuneration Pei Xiang offered was very generous, and the private investigator who had little business would naturally take her commission seriously and immediately began to investigate Liya's recent situation.

Therefore, Pei Xiang read some information posted by the other party on the advertisement column in today's morning newspaper.

——Last month, after attending a friend's funeral, I ran into a man named Albert.

——The two seemed to have not seen each other for many years. After crying and recognizing each other, Leah sent the seriously ill Albert to the county hospital and paid for his hospitalization and treatment expenses.

——The man's condition is very bad, and the follow-up treatment is very troublesome. If he can't get safe care and sufficient medicine, Albert may not live for three months.

Pei Xiang glanced at the numbers mixed in a bunch of text introductions, and silently calculated, he knew that the money had almost spent more than half of Liya's savings.

——If there is still need for follow-up treatment expenses, Leah really can't afford it.

She wrote down the address of the hospital and the ward number of the seriously ill Albert before putting away the morning papers she had read all the way.

When they arrived at the park where the charity event was held, Pei Xiang found a place with few people and stood there, chatting with two sponsored female students by the way.

From the curriculum arrangement of the boarding school to their meals, from where they will go after graduation to the thickness of the school uniform, anyway, after chatting and laughing for a while, she has a bottom line in her heart, knowing that the conditions of the charity schools they funded are not bad. Bad things like abuse happen.

Of course, the living conditions in charity schools cannot be compared with those in private schools, but most of the children can grow up safely and learn a skill.

——Actually, judging from the scale and effect of these charitable activities, the ladies in charge of these affairs are very resourceful and intelligent, even stronger than some men.

——But in this era, they have to hide behind men. Even if they make achievements, most of the time they cannot get fair recognition and evaluation.

Pei Xiang recalled the conversation in the carriage, and pursed his lips.

She will not dictate Jane's life choices, and believes that only her own ideas are right, everyone has their own choice of direction, and no one can replace another person to spend her life.

She can lend a helping hand to her brothers and sisters when they encounter difficulties, but she will not be someone's life mentor and emotional advisor, and of course, they don't need it.

She looked at Jane Gladstone, who was smiling subtly and gracefully behind Mrs. Caroline, and slowly looked away.Everyone has different standards for happiness, but they all work hard on the path they think is right and try their best.

——Arsenic or honey, who can tell clearly?

After being sentimental for a while, Pei Xiang was interrupted by Mycroft's appearance.

"Mr. Holmes, why didn't you talk to Major Lane more? I think he is very interested in talking."

"Major Lane does have the talent for eloquence, but I'm a little thirsty. Moreover, Mrs. Seymour and Major Lane have more topics in common."

Of course, Mycroft would not say that he was bored, and wanted to find a place with few people to sit down and rest. Unexpectedly, this Miss Gladstone was also hiding in the corner.

"I noticed that you had a pleasant chat with two female students just now. Are you talking about what you saw in the charity school?"

"It doesn't count?" Pei Xiang tilted his head and thought for a while, "I just want to know, are their winter school uniforms made of Scottish tweed? It looks pretty good."

"It's very good. This kind of fabric has good ductility and is waterproof and dirt-resistant. It is quite suitable as a fabric for winter school uniforms, but the price is a little expensive. However, it can also be seen that the wives put this charitable cause The management is quite good, and the orphans and the elderly are well taken care of. The charitable materials are neither wasted nor lost due to chaotic management.”

Pei Xiang wanted to talk to a Sherlock Holmes at this time, how did he confirm so many things in this short period of time?I want to ask what are his observation perspectives, and how much does his thinking mode match with his own way of inferring things?

And those different places are definitely worthy of her serious study.It's a pity that with her current personality, it is absolutely impossible to ask the doubts in her heart.

"Mr. Holmes, since you have praised several wives, you must not forget their gentlemen. Without the support and guidance of those well-informed gentlemen, things would definitely not go as smoothly as we see today."

Mycroft smirked. "Miss Gladstone."

"Ah, what I said just now is not my opinion. I was just repeating the comments in the newspaper. Actually, I think they are sour. Anyway, in my family, I have never heard of it. My father worried about guiding this aspect. Things, of course, may also be that I don't know.

"But having said that, even my daughter who lives with the Earl has never heard of things, how do those critics know? They are still praising in the newspapers, chasing me to the pages of serial stories Squeezed it all out, and squeezed Dr. Carl's guide to pore health into a corner, it's too long-winded."

Mycroft raised his eyebrows, with a smile on his lips: "Miss Gladstone really has extraordinary insights."

Pei Xiang glanced sideways at the gentleman beside him, a look of embarrassment suddenly appeared in her brows, she hesitated for a moment, and then asked very straightforwardly:

"Mr. Holmes, will you not refute no matter what I say? You, you don't really intend to pursue me, do you?"

"Miss is worrying too much, I am not worthy of your intelligence and beauty."

These words made Pei Xiang breathe a sigh of relief: "That's good, you are a good gentleman, but we are not suitable."

While the two were chatting, the charitable donation activity began.

The event went smoothly, Pei Xiang sat down and looked at it with interest for a while, and then suddenly found that Mycroft, who was sitting next to her, was gone.

She guessed that the other party might have something important to do, so she didn't pay much attention.After all, it is impossible for a Sherlock Holmes to really relax.

Of course, she also has work to do.

Pei Xiang looked at the time and waved to the maid.

"Lucy, is Hanks near the carriage?"

"Miss, Hanks is already waiting in the last carriage."

"Okay, go and tell Mrs. Murray that I didn't have a good rest last night, and now I'm feeling a little uncomfortable due to the cold wind. I'm going to a nearby hotel to rest, and I won't be going to the art exhibition for a while."

"Okay, I'll go right now."

After a while Mrs. Murray followed Lucy.

Pei Xiang smiled softly, facing Mrs. Murray's suspicious gaze, she covered her forehead and insisted that she was not feeling well.

Mrs. Murray didn't dare to really stop or question her, so she could only sigh helplessly.However, she had a vague guess in her heart that this wayward young lady was pretending to be sick, just to avoid getting along with Mr. Holmes.

Finally, the serious and responsible Mrs. Murray followed Pei Xiang into the carriage, planning to accompany her to the hotel to rest.