At length the grandmother died, leaving to Stella the trifle she possessed, after which, her education being completed, she returned to Northumberland to keep house for her father.

Here, too, it would seem that her life was very lonely, for the place was but an unvisited coast village, and they were not rich enough to mix much with the few county families who lived anywhere within reach.
"Have you no brothers or sisters ?" asked Morris.
Even then, numb as was her flesh with cold, he felt her wince at the question.
"No, no," she answered, "none now--at least, none here.

I have--I mean I had--a sister, my twin, but she died when we were seventeen.

This was the most dreadful thing that ever happened to me, the thing which made me what I am." "I don't quite understand.

What are you, then ?" "Oh, something very unsatisfactory, I am afraid, quite different from other people.