With a quick movement of her hands, she suddenly resumed in another tone.
'Mr.Rolfe, I do so wish you would let me speak to you in confidence.

I want to ask your help in a most delicate matter.

Not, of course, about my step-daughter, though I shall have to mention her.

It is something quite personal to myself.

If I could hope that you wouldn't think it tiresome--I have a special reason for appealing to you.' He would gladly, said Harvey, be of any use he could.
'I want to speak to you about painful things,' pursued his hostess, with an animation and emphasis which made her more like the lady of Fitzjohn Avenue.