No one, not even her husband, must ever know anything against her father from her.
Ellinor was so artless herself, that she had little idea how quickly and easily some people can penetrate motives, and combine disjointed sentences.

She began to speak to Ralph on their slow, sauntering walk homewards through the quiet meadows: "Suppose, Ralph, that a girl was engaged to be married--" "I can very easily suppose that, with you by me," said he, filling up her pause.
"Oh! but I don't mean myself at all," replied she, reddening.

"I am only thinking of what might happen; and suppose that this girl knew of some one belonging to her--we will call it a brother--who had done something wrong, that would bring disgrace upon the whole family if it was known--though, indeed, it might not have been so very wrong as it seemed, and as it would look to the world--ought she to break off her engagement for fear of involving her lover in the disgrace ?" "Certainly not, without telling him her reason for doing so." "Ah! but suppose she could not.

She might not be at liberty to do so." "I can't answer supposititious cases.

I must have the facts--if facts there are--more plainly before me before I can give an opinion.