I could not give her pain by asking what it was, for I knew that she withheld it from me, to spare her father.

It had long been going on to this, I was sensible: yes, I could not but feel, on the least reflection, that it had been going on to this for a long time.

I remained silent.
'His ascendancy over papa,' said Agnes, 'is very great.

He professes humility and gratitude--with truth, perhaps: I hope so--but his position is really one of power, and I fear he makes a hard use of his power.' I said he was a hound, which, at the moment, was a great satisfaction to me.
'At the time I speak of, as the time when papa spoke to me,' pursued Agnes, 'he had told papa that he was going away; that he was very sorry, and unwilling to leave, but that he had better prospects.

Papa was very much depressed then, and more bowed down by care than ever you or I have seen him; but he seemed relieved by this expedient of the partnership, though at the same time he seemed hurt by it and ashamed of it.' 'And how did you receive it, Agnes ?' 'I did, Trotwood,' she replied, 'what I hope was right.