That sad
and sorrowful childhood of hers, passed in that old London house; her
mother's love for her; her cruel, stern stepfather, and the endless
quarrels between her father and mother, which made her young life so
unbearable, so wretched, that she could never think of those years without
tears rising to her eyes. And then the going away, coming to live with Mr.
Burnett! The death of her father and her dear mother, so sudden, following
so soon one after the other. How much there had been in her life, how
wonderful it was! Her love of Mr. Burnett, and then that bitter and
passionate change in him! That proposal of marriage; could she ever forget
it? And then this cruel and sudden death. Everything she had ever loved had
been taken from her. Only Julia remained, and should Julia be taken from
her, she felt that she must die. But that would not, could not, happen. She
was now mistress of Ashwood, she was a great heiress; and she and Julia
would live always together, they would always love one another, they would
always live here in this beautiful place which they loved so well.
VIII
There were at the funeral a few personal friends who lived in the
neighbourhood, the farmers on the estate, and the labourers; and when the
little crowd separated outside the church, Emily and Julia walked back to
Ashwood with Mr.
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