It is impossible to question her at present.
She must be spared all exertion and agitation.

I have not attempted to see her yet." He paused, while anger towards her ex-pupil waxed warm in Theresa once again.

For the pause was eloquent, as his voice had been when speaking about his daughter, of a depth of underlying tenderness which filled his hearer with envy.
"I must therefore ask you, Miss Bilson," he presently went on, "to give me a detailed account of all that took place yesterday.

It is important I should know exactly what occurred." Whereat Theresa, perceiving pitfalls alike in statement and in suppression of fact, hesitated and gobbled to the near neighbourhood of positive incoherence, while admitting, and trying to avoid admitting, how inconveniently ignorant of precise details she herself was.
"Perhaps I erred in not more firmly insisting upon an immediate enquiry," she said.

"But, at the time, alarm appeared so totally uncalled for.