"In one of these wings the windows were broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin...."See in text(The Adventure of the Speckled Band)
Doyle’s description of the ruined manor serves two potential purposes. On the level of plot, it offers Roylott a reason to undergo construction, thus forcing Helen into the adjacent bedroom. On a symbolic level, a house often serves as a metaphor and metonym for family. A house in ruins tells us that the family residing there is in a state of dysfunction and disarray, as is the case with Ms. Stoner and Dr. Roylott. Thus the description of the manor carries a deep emotional resonance.
"glided from the room..."See in text(The Adventure of the Speckled Band)
Victorian women wore long billowing dresses that covered them all the way to their shoes. Helen would appear to "glide" if Watson could not see her feet moving.
