A dark suspicion had come to me that these people, underneath all their amiable ways, concealed thoughts, habits, and motives of a frightful kind; and that beyond all my present brightness and happiness there might be a fate awaiting me too horrible for thought.
Yet I did not wish to borrow trouble.

What I had seen and heard was quite enough for one occasion.

I was anxious, rather, to forget it all.

Nor did Almah's words or manner in any way reassure me.

She was silent and sad and preoccupied.