He had a little room over the tool-house, which Jane Merrick had had prepared for him years ago, and here he locked himself in day and night, stealthily emerging but to secure the food Susan carried and placed before his door.
No one minded James much, for all the inmates of Elhurst were under severe and exciting strain in the days preceding the funeral.
The girls wept a little, but it was more on account of the solemnity following the shadow of death than for any great affection they bore their aunt.

Patsy, indeed, tried to deliver a tribute to Aunt Jane's memory; but it was not an emphatic success.
"I'm sure she had a good heart," said the girl, "and if she had lived more with her own family and cultivated her friends she would have been much less hard and selfish.

At the last, you know, she was quite gentle." "I hadn't noticed it," remarked Beth.
"Oh, I did.

And she made a new will, after that awful one she told us of, and tried to be just and fair to all" "I'm glad to hear that" said Louise.

"Tell us, Patsy, what does the will say?
You must know all about it." "Mr.Watson is going to read it, after the funeral," replied the girl, "and then you will know as much about it as I do.