Arthur
I am a widower, and have an only son, Arthur. He
has been a disappointment to me, Mr Holmes, a
grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I
have myself to blame. It was naturally my
intention that he should succeed in my business,
but he was not of a business turn. He was wild,
wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not
trust him in the handling of large sums of money.
When he was young, he became a member of an
aristocratic club, and there, having charming
manners, he was soon the intimate of a number
of men with long purses and expensive habits. He
learned to play heavily in cards and to squander
money on the turf.
(MARY)
She is my niece; but when my brother died five
years ago, and left her alone in the world, I
adopted and have looked upon her ever since as
my daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house-
sweet, loving, beautiful, a wonderful manager
and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and
gentle as a woman could be. She is my right
hand. I do not know what I could do without her.
In only one matter has she ever gone against my
wishes. Twice my boy had asked her to marry
him, for he loves her devotedly, but each time
she has refused him. I think if anyone could have
drawn him into the right path it would have been
she and that his marriage might have changed his
whole life.
The above excerpts have been taken from The Beryl Coronet, in which Mr Holder provides
information to Sherlock about his family. Reading both the excerpts, what differences do
you notice between Mr Holder’s opinion of his son Arthur, and his niece Mary?
Answer in detail with the help of evidences.