From Regina's earliest childhood there was always distress at home.

Her father harassed by creditors, trying one scheme after another, and failing in all; her mother and herself, half starved--with their very bedclothes sometimes at the pawnbrokers.

I attended them in their illnesses, and though they hid their wretchedness from everybody else (proud as Lucifer, both of them!), they couldn't hide it from me.

Fancy the change to this house! I don't say that living here in clover is enough for such a person as Regina; I only say it has its influence.

She is one of those young women, sir, who delight in sacrificing themselves to others--she is devoted, for instance, to Mrs.
Farnaby.