Her beloved husband was dead, of no more account in the world than those who had passed from it at Eastwich a thousand years ago.

He was dead, and soon would be forgotten by all save her, and she was alone; in her heart utterly alone.
The summer came and everyone grew cheerful.

Aunt Thompson arrived at the Hall to stay, and urged Barbara to put away past things and resign herself to the will of Providence--as she had done in the case of the departed Samuel.
"After all," she said, "it might have been worse.

You might have been called upon to nurse an invalid for twenty years, and when at last he went, have found the best part of your life gone, as I did," and she sighed heavily.

"As it is, you still look quite a girl, having kept your figure so well; you are comfortably off and have a good position, and in short there is no knowing what may happen in the future.