but he was only disturbed further by his mother 's strange and half-stilted letter , and when he found amongst its general awkwardness a wholly incomprehensible passage : and i trust that miss emily roland is in good health , and pray that you will assure her of my interest in her progress ; i have enclosed a set of ear-rings , which she might enjoy , when not impractical in the course of her duties ... laurence read these words some four times over before he was perfectly convinced of having them correctly , though he could read his mother 's hand as easily as print , and then laying the letter down sat back in his chair , very blank .