But the evening hours she invariably devoted to her father; the shortness of the time that she was able to give him was a reason for losing no moment of this communion.

She knew that the forecast of the evening's happiness sustained him through the long day, and even so slight a pleasure as that she bestowed in opening the door at his arrival, she would not willingly have suffered him to lose.

It did not appear that Mrs.Hood reflected on this exclusive attachment in Emily; it certainly troubled her not at all.

This order in the house was of long standing; it had grown to seem as natural as poverty and hopelessness.

Emily and her father reasoned as little about their mutual affection; to both it was a priceless part of life, given to them by the same dark powers that destroy and deprive.