ine, and the delicate
strengthening food that she required--we amused her in the evenings
with children's games at cards, with scrap-books full of prints which
I borrowed from the engraver who employed me--by these, and other
trifling attentions like them, we composed her and steadied her, and
hoped all things, as cheerfully as we could from time and care, and
love that never neglected and never despaired of her. But to take her
mercilessly from seclusion and repose--to confront her with strangers,
or with acquaintances who were little better than strangers--to rouse
the painful impressions of her past life which we had so carefully
hushed to rest--this, even in her own interests, we dared not do.
Whatever sacrifices it cost, whatever long, weary, heartbreaking delays
it involved, the wrong that had been inflicted on her, if mortal means
could grapple it, must be redressed without her knowledge and without
her help.

This resolution settled, it was next necessary to decide how the first
risk should be ventured, and what the first proceedings should be.

After consulting with Marian, I resolved to begin by gathering together
as many facts as could be collected--then to ask the advice of Mr.
Kyrle (whom we knew we could trust), and to ascertain from him, in the
first instance, if the legal remedy lay fairly within our reach. I
owed it to Laura's interests not to stake her whole future on my own
unaided exertions, so long as there was the faintest prospect of
strengthening our position by obtaining reliable assistance of any kind.

The first source of information to which I applied was the journal kept
at Blackwater Park by Marian Halcombe. There were passages in this
diary relating to myself which she thought it best that I should not
see. Accordingly, she read to me from the manuscript, and I took the
notes I wanted as she went on. We could only find time to pursue this
occupation by sitting up late at night. Three nights were devoted to
the purpose, and were enough to put me in possession of all that Marian
could tell.

My next proceeding was to gain as much additional evidence as I could
procure from other people without exciting suspicion. I went myself to
Mrs. Vesey to ascertain if Laura's impression of having slept there was
correct or not. In this case, from consideration for Mrs. Vesey's age
and infirmity, and in all subsequent cases of the same kind from
considerations of caution, I kept our real posi