I had never worn a black frock, that I could recollect.

I had never been shown my mama's grave.

I had never been told where it was.

Yet I had never been taught to pray for any relation but my godmother.

I had more than once approached this subject of my thoughts with Mrs.Rachael, our only servant, who took my light away when I was in bed (another very good woman, but austere to me), and she had only said, "Esther, good night!" and gone away and left me.
Although there were seven girls at the neighbouring school where I was a day boarder, and although they called me little Esther Summerson, I knew none of them at home.