Winter dragged by uneventfully for Betty.

Unlike the other pioneer girls, who were kept busy all the time with their mending, and linsey weaving, and household duties, Betty had nothing to divert her but her embroidery and her reading.

These she found very tiresome.

Her maid was devoted to her and never left a thing undone.
Annie was old Sam's daughter, and she had waited on Betty since she had been a baby.

The cleaning or mending or darning--anything in the shape of work that would have helped pass away the monotonous hours for Betty, was always done before she could lift her hand.
During the day she passed hours in her little room, and most of them were dreamed away by her window.