Good heavens! for what possible purpose?
For the purpose of getting a respectable lodging, which she could hardly expect to accomplish unless she was accompanied by an elderly female friend.

And was I, in the capacity of elderly male friend, to be left out of the business altogether?
Impossible to say at present.

Was I not even to forward any letters which might come for her at our present address?
No: she would make the arrangement herself at the post-office; and she would ask me, at the same time, for an address, at which I could receive a letter from her, in case of necessity for future communication.

Further inquiries, after this last answer, could lead to nothing but waste of time.

I saved time by putting no more questions.
It was clear to me that our present position toward each other was what our position had been previously to the event of Michael Vanstone's death.