Last of all there were Anne and Miriam.

Anne, her devoted little comrade of years, and Miriam, whose faith and good fellowship had never failed her.
A sob rose in Grace's throat, but she quickly stifled it.

After all she was about to begin the work she herself had chosen.

She had known when she announced her determination to take charge of Harlowe House that things could never be quite the same.

It would be selfish, indeed, in her to break down and cry when Mrs.Gray had come to Overton solely to help her select the furniture and plan for the opening of Harlowe House in September.
Grace pulled herself together and, resolutely putting her own sense of loss behind her, said steadily: "I couldn't help thinking of the girls for a minute.