Their communion was of a kind not frequently existing between father and daughter; fellowship in Study made them mental comrades, and respect for each other's intellectual powers was added to their natural love.
What did they not discuss?
From classical archaeology to the fire-new theories of the day in art and science, something of all passed at one time or another under their scrutiny.
Yet there was the limit imposed by fine feeling.

Mr.Newthorpe never tried to pass the sacred bound which parts a father's province from that of a mother.

There was much in the girl's heart that he would gladly have read, yet could not until she should of herself reveal it to him.

For instance, they did not very often speak of Egremont.

When a letter arrived from him, Mr.Newthorpe always gave it to Annabel to read; at other times that was a subject on which he spoke only when she introduced it.