The Letter and the Answer

           Myguardiancalledmeintohisroomnextmorning,andthenItoldhimwhathadbeenleftuntoldonthepreviousnight.Therewasnothingtobedone,hesaid,buttokeepthesecretandtoavoidanothersuchencounterasthatofyesterday.Heunderstoodmyfeelingandentirelysharedit.HechargedhimselfevenwithrestrainingMr.Skimpolefromimprovinghisopportunity.Onepersonwhomheneednotnametome,itwasnotnowpossibleforhimtoadviseorhelp.Hewisheditwere,butnosuchthingcouldbe.Ifhermistrustofthelawyerwhomshehadmentionedwerewell-founded,whichhescarcelydoubted,hedreadeddiscovery.Heknewsomethingofhim,bothbysightandbyreputation,anditwascertainthathewasadangerousman.Whateverhappened,herepeatedlyimpresseduponmewithanxiousaffectionandkindness,Iwasasinnocentofashimselfandasunabletoinfluence."NordoIunderstand,"saidhe,"thatanydoubtstendtowardsyou,mydear.Muchsuspicionmayexistwithoutthatconnexion.""Withthelawyer,"Ireturned."ButtwootherpersonshavecomeintomymindsinceIhavebeenanxious.ThenItoldhimallaboutMr.Guppy,whoIfearedmighthavehadhisvaguesurmiseswhenIlittleunderstoodhismeaning,butinwhosesilenceafterourlastinterviewIexpressedperfectconfidence."Well,"saidmyguardian."Thenwemaydismisshimforthepresent.Whoistheother?"IcalledtohisrecollectiontheFrenchmaidandtheeagerofferofherselfshehadmadetome."Ha!"hereturnedthoughtfully."Thatisamorealarmingpersonthantheclerk.Butafterall,mydear,itwasbutseekingforanewservice.