How it was I don't understand, but we always seemed to be getting, with the best of motives, in one another's way.

When I wanted to go up-stairs, there was my wife coming down; or when my wife wanted to go down, there was I coming up.

That is married life, according to my experience of it.
After five years of misunderstandings on the stairs, it pleased an all-wise Providence to relieve us of each other by taking my wife.

I was left with my little girl Penelope, and with no other child.

Shortly afterwards Sir John died, and my lady was left with her little girl, Miss Rachel, and no other child.