He did not like the seeming harshness of his words, however, for he added: "I do hope, Miss Trelawny, that you understand that I am willing--frankly and unequivocally willing--to do anything I can, within the limits of my power, to relieve your distress.

But your Father had, in all his doings, some purpose of his own which he did not disclose to me.

So far as I can see, there is not a word of his instructions that he had not thought over fully.

Whatever idea he had in his mind was the idea of a lifetime; he had studied it in every possible phase, and was prepared to guard it at every point.
"Now I fear I have distressed you, and I am truly sorry for it; for I see you have much--too much--to bear already.

But I have no alternative.