Some one had made a literal translation, writing generally the English word under the Dutch, so that the grammatical differences between the two tongues made even the reading of the translation a difficult matter.

One had to dodge backward and forward among the words.

This was in addition to the difficulty of deciphering a strange handwriting of two hundred years ago.

I found, however, that after a short time I got into the habit of following in conventional English the Dutch construction; and, as I became more familiar with the writing, my task became easier.
At first the circumstances of the room, and the fear lest Miss Trelawny should return unexpectedly and find me reading the book, disturbed me somewhat.

For we had arranged amongst us, before Doctor Winchester had gone home, that she was not to be brought into the range of the coming investigation.