is, I feel a woman's interest--incurable
invalid as I am--in assisting you. If you are desirous of becoming
acquainted with Miss Gwilt's family circumstances without directly
appealing to Miss Gwilt herself, it rests with you to make the
discovery; and I will tell you how.

"It so happens that, some few days since, I wrote privately to Miss
Gwilt's reference on this very subject. I had long observed that my
governess was singularly reluctant to speak of her family and her
friends; and, without attributing her silence to other than perfectly
proper motives, I felt it my duty to my daughter to make some inquiry on
the subject. The answer that I have received is satisfactory as far as
it goes. My correspondent informs me that Miss Gwilt's story is a very
sad one, and that her own conduct throughout has been praiseworthy in
the extreme. The circumstances (of a domestic nature, as I gather) are
all plainly stated in a collection of letters now in the possession of
Miss Gwilt's reference. This lady is perfectly willing to let me see
the letters; but not possessing copies of them, and being personally
responsible for their security, she is reluctant, if it can be avoided,
to trust them to the post; and she begs me to wait until she or I can
find some reliable person who can be employed to transmit the packet
from her hands to mine.

"Under these circumstances, it has struck me that you might possibly,
with your interest in the matter, be not unwilling to take charge of the
papers. If I am wrong in this idea, and if you are not disposed, after
what I have told you, to go to the trouble and expense of a journey to
London, you have only to burn my letter and inclosure, and to think no
more about it. If you decide on becoming my envoy, I gladly provide you
with the necessary introduction to Mrs. Mandeville. You have only, on
presenting it, to receive the letters in a sealed packet, to send
them here on your return to Thorpe Ambrose, and to wait an early
communication from me acquainting you with the result.

"In conclusion, I have only to add that I see no impropriety in your
taking (if you feel so inclined) the course that I propose to you. Miss
Gwilt's manner of receiving such allusions as I have made to her family
circumstances has rendered it unpleasant for me (and would render it
quite impossible for you) to seek information in the first instance from
herself. I am certainly justified in applying to her reference; and you