In reality, Annie Eustace had very much that attitude of soul.

She always considered the wrong as her natural place, and, in fact, would not have been comfortable elsewhere, although she suffered there.

And yet, little Annie Eustace was a gifted creature.

There was probably not a person in Fairbridge who had been so well endowed by nature, but her environment and up-bringing had been unfortunate.

If Annie's mother had lived, the daughter might have had more spirit, but she had died when Annie was a baby, and the child had been given over to the tyranny of two aunts, and a grandmother.