Not another girl in the valley cared to follow Linda's pursuits or to cultivate the acquaintance of the breeched, booted girl, constantly devoting herself to outdoor study with her father during his lifetime, afterward alone.
For an instant after Marian had boarded her train Linda stood looking at it, her heart so heavy that it pained acutely.

She had not said one word to make Marian feel that she did not want her to go.

Not once had she put forward the argument that Marian's going would leave her to depend entirely for human sympathy upon the cook, and her guardian, also administrator of the Strong estate, John Gilman.

So long as he was Marian's friend Linda had admired John Gilman.

She had gone to him for some measure of the companionship she had missed in losing her father.
Since Gilman had allowed himself to be captivated by Eileen, Linda had harbored a feeling concerning him almost of contempt.