But years slipped by, and she was Miss Leaf still.

What matter! Hilary was her daughter.
Johanna's pride in her knew no bounds.

Not that she showed it much; indeed she deemed it a sacred duty not to show it; but to make believe her "child" was just like other children.

But she was not.
Nobody ever thought she was--even in externals .-- Fate gave her all those gifts which are sometimes sent to make up for the lack of worldly prosperity.

Her brown eyes were as soft a doves' eyes, yet could dance with fun and mischief if they chose; her hair, brown also, with a dark-red shade in it, crisped itself in two wavy lines over her forehead, and then turn bled down in two glorious masses, which Johanna, ignorant, alas! of art, called very "untidy," and labored in vain to quell under combs, or to arrange in proper, regular curls Her features--well, they too, were good; better than those unartistic people had any idea of--better even than Selina's, who in her youth had been the belle of the town.