My temper has been softened, since I have befriended you in your troubles.

That good at least has come out of my foolish hopes, and perhaps out of the true sympathy which I have felt for you.

I can honestly ask you to accept my heart's dearest wishes for your happiness--and I can keep the rest to myself.
"Let me say a word now relating to the efforts that I have made to help you, since that sad day when you left Lady Lydiard's house.
"I had hoped (for reasons which it is needless to mention here) to interest Mr.Hardyman himself in aiding our inquiry.

But your aunt's wishes, as expressed in her letter to me, close my lips.

I will only beg you, at some convenient time, to let me mention the last discoveries that we have made; leaving it to your discretion, when Mr.Hardyman has become your husband, to ask him the questions which, under other circumstances, I should have put to him myself.
"It is, of course, possible that the view I take of Mr.Hardyman's capacity to help us may be a mistaken one.