She had few relatives, and none of them had any intention of burdening themselves with her pennilessness.

They were people of excellent family, but had quite enough to do to keep their sons in the army or navy and find husbands for their daughters.

When Emily's mother had died and her small annuity had died with her, none of them had wanted the care of a big raw-boned girl, and Emily had had the situation frankly explained to her.

At eighteen she had begun to work as assistant teacher in a small school; the year following she had taken a place as nursery-governess; then she had been reading-companion to an unpleasant old woman in Northumberland.

The old woman had lived in the country, and her relatives had hovered over her like vultures awaiting her decease.