She had always resented the sordid life at Cloverton.
She had been discontented with her lot since her earliest girlhood, and longed to escape the constant bickerings of her parents and their vain struggles to obtain enough money to "keep up appearances" and drive the wolf from the door.

And here was an opportunity to win a fortune and a home beautiful enough for a royal princess.

All that was necessary was to gain the esteem of a crabbed, garrulous old woman, who had doubtless but a few more weeks to live.

It must be done, in one way or another; but how?
How could she out-wit this unknown cousin, and inspire the love of Aunt Jane?
"If there's any stuff of the right sort in my nature," decided the girl, as she entered her pretty bedchamber and threw herself into a chair, "I'll find a way to win out.

One thing is certain--I'll never again have another chance at so fine a fortune, and if I fail to get it I shall deserve to live in poverty forever afterward." Suddenly she noticed the old housekeeper standing before her and regarding her with a kindly interest.