But now she was absolutely alone, the loneliness seemed awful.
It was quite dark before the fire burned up and threw its flickering light over her old home.

She sat down on the hearth opposite her father's empty chair, in her own place--the place which had been hers ever since she could remember.

How long would it be hers?
She knew that one volume of her life was ended and closed; the new volume was all hidden from her.

She was not afraid of opening it, for there was a fund of courage and hope in her nature of which she did not know all the wealth.

There was also the simple trust of a child in the goodness of God.
She had finished her tea and was sitting apparently idle, with her hands lying on her lap, when a sudden knock at the door startled and almost frightened her.