What was it to her that Mrs.Richardson was an odd-looking, eccentric old lady, whose curled gray fringe and gay attire scarcely harmonised with her homely, weather-beaten features; to Leah her face was transfigured by the loveliness of a kind and tender nature.

"I think I saw her as the angels did," she said long years afterwards to one who had served for her as Jacob did for his beloved Rachel; "for I loved every line of her dear homely face.

Oh, how she mothered me, who had never known mother love, and how good and patient she was with me in my bad times! If God had not taken her, I could never have left her--never!" For when Mrs.Richardson died some years later, her hand was locked in that of her adopted daughter.
Leah drooped for some time after this encounter.

Then, as the summer went on, she recovered her spirits gradually; new duties and interests demanded her attention, and in the wholesome and active life led by the mistress of Sandy Hollow she found plenty to distract her sad thoughts.
Mrs.Richardson was a great gardener, and on warm days she spent most of her time in the open air; they breakfasted under a spreading chestnut, and often dined in foreign fashion on the terrace facing the sunset.
When Malcolm went down to the Manor House in August before he started for Norway, he walked across to Sandy Hollow with Mrs.Godfrey.

They found Mrs.Richardson sitting in a shady retreat, with all her various pets round her.