The story, new to her, began in Mary Wynter's fifteenth year.
At that time Mr.Wynter's family consisted of four persons--himself, his daughter, her governess, and a nephew, George Wynter, who was, in fact, an adopted son.

The governess had been lately and hastily added to the household, on the discovery of Mary's amazing ignorance; and her selection had been a mistake.

She and her pupil were at open warfare, she endeavouring to teach, Mary determined not to learn.

The poor lady was very conscientious, and very well instructed, but she was not judicious.

She never found out that her pupil would have been an absolute slave to affection, but was altogether hardened to severity, and when she failed in herself enforcing her authority, she made the great and most unlucky mistake of appealing to George Wynter.