My friends were of course inquisitive respecting her character, adventures, and particularly her relation to me.

The consciousness how much the truth redounded to my dishonour made me solicitous to lead conjecture astray.

For this purpose I did not discountenance the conclusion that was adopted by some,--that she was my daughter.

I reflected that all dangerous surmises would be effectually precluded by this belief.
"These precautions afforded me some consolation in my present difficulties.

It was requisite to conceal the lady's condition from the world.