Companionship made her gay, and emulation woke keen and successful ambition.

Nearly three years passed, and, in place of ignorance and insubordination, she had gained a bright intelligence and a becoming submission.

At seventeen she returned home, a girl who would have brought to a mother both pride and anxiety.
But there was no mother to receive her.

At the sight of her, her father was a little shaken out of his accustomed thoughts and habits.

He tried to imagine what his wife would have done or counselled for their child's good, but his imagination was unpractised and would not help him much.
He made one great effort for her sake.