She could not bend, and when things went awry, she broke.
"You must never think hardly of her, for she had been brought up in that atmosphere of almost desperate pride which is too frequently the curse of the poverty-stricken aristocrat.

She made a ghastly mistake, and paid for it afterwards every day of her life.

And she was urged into it by her father, who declined to recognize me in any way, and by her mother, who made her life at home a simple hell--as a clever society woman can make of any young girl's life if she chooses.
"Just before she died, she sent for me and gave you into my care, begging me to shield you from spoiling your life as she had spoiled hers.
"I've done what I could.

You are at least independent.

No one can drive you with the spur of poverty into selling yourself, as she was driven.
But there are a hundred other rocks in life against which you may wreck your happiness, and remember, in the long run, you sink or swim by your own force of character.
"And when love comes to you, _as it will come_,--for no woman with your eyes and your mouth ever yet lived a loveless life!--never forget that it is the biggest thing in the world, the one altogether good and perfect gift.