It was not only her father who, for her, was now lying dead.

She had loved her father well, but with a love infinitely greater she had loved another; and that other one was now dead to her also.

What was there left to her in the world?
The charity of her aunt, and Lotta's triumph, and Ziska's love?
No indeed! She would bear neither the charity, nor the triumph, nor the love.

One other visitor came to the house that day.

It was Rebecca Loth.