it happened in this wise : unbeknownst to me , ever since my mother had become aware of my acquaintance with mrs. grayson , she had quietly made it her business to discover what she could of the family , apparently no longer trusting in the integrity of my own report on the subject ; though how she fancied any man could be a danger to her ambitions for me , when he was busy voluntarily removing himself across the country , is beyond my comprehension .