To her they were immensely important, but to the family the really important thing seemed that, with trifling exceptions, the new inmate of the household was gentle and kind; her housekeeping a miracle and her cooking a dream.

In the years she had lived with them there had been but one serious thrill of anxiety, and that came when Dr.Coombe had discovered her endeavouring to infect Jane with her delusions.

This had been strictly forbidden and the child's mind, duly warned, was soon safeguarded by her own growing comprehension.

Jane quickly understood that it was foolish to shut the garden gate three times every time she came through it, and that no one save Aunt Amy thought it necessary to count all the boards in the sidewalk or to touch all the little posts under the balustrade as one came down stairs.

Some of the prettier, more elusive fancies she may have retained, but, if so, they did her no harm.
As for Aunt Amy herself, she lived her shadow-haunted life not unhappily.