Bessy read from my face the expression, "Why bother me with all this?" I never asked about it, and I didn't care a fig about her affairs.
"Look now," continued she, in an almost supplicating voice, "I don't tell you all these things to amuse you, but because I have an earnest request to make of you."
"So the lieutenant informed me."
"I don't mean about giving me away—that is not a serious request. You would do that to oblige any servant of yours. I have a much greater request than that to make. I wish to ask you to be my guardian, my foster-father."
"I? Your foster-father?"
"Don't put so much emphasis on the word father. You are four years older than I am, remember."
"What does a married woman want with a guardian?"
"I assume the case of a married woman who mismanages her property."
"And do you believe, then, that I am such a great financier?"
"I believe that you are my sincere friend, anyhow. You are my only real friend in the round world who neither asks nor expects anything for his kindness to me. I know it from experience. You have heard, no doubt (and if you haven't heard, you might easily have guessed it), that my relations have shaken me off. They deny that they ever knew me. My mother has married again and removed to Prague. Every one in whom I would confide tries to get something out of me—either money, or what is more precious than money. Whosoever would attach himself to me is either a swindler, or a seducer, or a parasite. As for myself, I am a stupid, credulous creature, who will never have any brains to bless herself with. I need a strong hand over me, some one to look after my material interests and save me from bankruptcy, some one in whose good-will I may confide. I know very well I might find a more experienced guardian than you, even if I went no further than the civic magistrates; but I could endure dictation from nobody—but you. Your dictation I could put up with. For Heaven's sake do not let me perish!"