Perhaps she understood girls better than boys, for Anna thrived under her system.

The old nurse Mrs.Dawson, who still officiated as Mrs.Herrick's personal attendant, taught her needle-work: an excellent governess, who was both judicious and reasonable, presided over the schoolroom and accompanied her in her walks; nor was she entirely without companions, for she attended dancing and deportment classes with the young daughters of their vicar, a much-esteemed guide, philosopher, and friend to the Herrick family.
Until the governess, Miss Greenwood, left them to be married, and Anna grew up to woman's estate, her life was as happy as most girls'.

The chief events in it were Malcolm's holidays.

Anna looked forward to them for months beforehand, and she always cried herself to sleep the day he left.
She and her adopted mother were the best of friends.

Anna regarded Mrs.
Herrick as one of the noblest of women, and her dutiful submission and anxiety to please her benefactress secretly surprised Malcolm.
Mrs.Herrick was not a demonstrative woman, but in her own way she was very good to Anna; she encouraged her to call her mother, bought her pretty dresses and ornaments such as girls loved, but there Anna's list of privileges was at an end.