He would be naturally curious, if not anxious, to know why I amongst men had been chosen as his daughter's friend on the occasion of his illness.

Fathers are naturally a little jealous in such matters as a daughter's choice, and in the undeclared state of my love for Margaret I must do nothing which could ultimately embarrass her.
"I am a Barrister.

It is not, however, in that capacity I am here; but simply as a friend of your daughter.

It was probably her knowledge of my being a lawyer which first determined her to ask me to come when she thought you had been murdered.

Afterwards she was good enough to consider me to be a friend, and to allow me to remain in accordance with your expressed wish that someone should remain to watch." Mr.Trelawny was manifestly a man of quick thought, and of few words.
He gazed at me keenly as I spoke, and his piercing eyes seemed to read my thought.