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.