She came to dread her step-mother's presence with a feeling akin to nausea, to shrink in every nerve from the constant ordeals so ruthlessly thrust upon her, So far she had never faltered or shown any sign of weakness under the long-drawn-out persecution, but she was becoming aware that, strive as she might, her endurance had its limits.

She was but human, and she was intensely sensitive to unkindness.

Her nerves were beginning to give way under the strain.

There were even times when she felt a breakdown to be inevitable, and only the thought of her step-mother's triumph warded it off.

Once down, and she knew she would be a slave, broken beyond redemption to the most pitiless tyranny.