"A letter," continued Helen, "which I had written and given to Louisa to be sent to the post-office. It was, of course, sealed when I gave it to Louisa; when I found it, it had been broken open. I can hardly imagine that Louisa, who is so very warmly attached to me, should take sufficient interest in my correspondence to commit such a wrong at the risk of being immediately turned out of the house. I must, therefore, assure you that there is somebody else in the house who takes the trouble to play the spy upon me. I intended, therefore, to come and ask you what I ought to do?"
The baroness had been steadily sewing at her work while Helen was speaking. Now she looked up and asked:
"For whom was the letter intended?"
"For Mary Burton."
"Did you speak very freely in your letter?"
"As friends write to friends."
"Did the letter contain things which you would not like to be seen by others?"
"Certainly."
"Not even by your parents?"
Helen made no answer.