As is ever the case with those who have to do chiefly with things material, she was thinking more frequently of the outer wants of those around her, than of the inner workings of her own heart and personal intelligence.

Would the bread rise well?
Would that bargain she had made for poultry suffice for the house?
Was that lot of wine which she had persuaded her uncle to buy of a creditable quality?
Were her efforts for increasing her uncle's profits compatible with satisfaction on the part of her uncle's guests?
Such were the questions which from day to day occupied her attention and filled her with interest.

And therefore her own identity was not strong to her, as it is strong to those whose business permits them to look frequently into themselves, or whose occupations are of a nature to produce such introspection.

If her head ached, or had she lamed her hand by any accident, she would think more of the injury to the household arising from her incapacity than of her own pain.

It is so, reader, with your gardener, your groom, or your cook, if you will think of it.