The vicar expressed to Mr.
Woodville a wish to write to his mother, or to see her, on the subject of her strange message.

Eustace obstinately declined to mention his mother's address, on the ground that the vicar's interference would be utterly useless.

My uncle at once drew the conclusion that the mystery about the address indicated something wrong.

He refused to favor Mr.
Woodville's renewed proposal for my hand, and he wrote the same day to make inquiries of Mr.Woodville's reference and of his own friend Major Fitz-David.
Under such circumstances as these, to speak of my uncle's motives was to venture on very delicate ground.

Eustace relieved me from further embarrassment by asking a question to which I could easily reply.
"Has your uncle received any answer from Major Fitz-David ?" he inquired.
"Yes.
"Were you allowed to read it ?" His voice sank as he said those words; his face betrayed a sudden anxiety which it pained me to see.
"I have got the answer with me to show you," I said.
He almost snatched the letter out of my hand; he turned his back on me to read it by the light of the moon.