It had been one of those days. Nothing really had gone wrong, and I didn’t have any major events coming up which might concern me, but nevertheless I felt a little uneasy and unable to relax. Although no longer taking clients, Holmes occasionally still looked into matters which interested him, and I knew from our conversation over breakfast that he had a couple of matters on his mind, which might involve me in some way. At the same time, I had some ideas for the garden, which I was planning on talking over with Seth, and I wasn’t sure what his response would be.

I sat in my armchair and flicked back and forwards in my new seed catalogue, unable to concentrate fully and yet, whenever I tried to put it down a new idea would occur to me, and I would begin to look through the pages again.

I envied Wordsworth, our cat, who was completely relaxed, stretched out in front of the fire. The most he would do was roll over when he felt his tummy was getting a bit too warm, so he could toast his back instead. Suddenly, the mouse, which had taken up residence for the winter, must have slipped out of his hole, for Wordsworth leapt up and rushed over towards the door. But a few minutes later, having presumably decided the effort wasn’t worth it, he returned to his position by the fire, flopped down and went back to sleep, once more totally relaxed.

Holmes meanwhile was very still. He was leaning back and his eyes were closed, so that anyone who did not know him well might have thought him completely at ease. I, who knew him very well indeed, could see he was concentrating on his current problem and blocking out everything else.

With a sigh, I put down my seed catalogue and took up my latest novel, hoping that would take my mind off things.

I awoke somewhat later to hear Holmes calling my name. “Sorry, old chap, for waking you, but I need to go next door to speak to Hopkins about this problem. I should also remind you that Annie has invited us for tea and if we do not go soon, we will find the children have eaten all the cake.”

I looked at the clock and gave an exclamation, before laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Holmes asked.

“Oh, just that I was struggling to relax, but it seems that I was rather too successful.”