I really was frightened at the thought of the importance I was attaining and the number of things that were being confided to me. I had not meant this at all; I had meant that he should speak to Richard. But of course I said nothing in reply except that I would do my best, though I feared (I really felt it necessary to repeat this) that he thought me much more sagacious than I was. At which my guardian only laughed the pleasantest laugh I ever heard.
"Come!" he said, rising and pushing back his chair. "I think we may have done with the growlery for one day! Only a concluding word. Esther, my dear, do you wish to ask me anything?"
He looked so attentively at me that I looked attentively at him and felt sure I understood him.

I really was frightened at the thought of the importance I was attaining and the number of things that were being confided to me. But of course I said that I would do my best, though I feared that he thought me much wiser than I was. At which he laughed the pleasantest laugh I ever heard.
"Come!" he said, rising and pushing back his chair. "I think we may have done with the growlery for one day! Esther, my dear, do you wish to ask me anything?"
He looked so attentively at me that I felt sure I understood him.
