She had passed all the later years of her life in retirement.

A good creature, he admitted, in her own way, but she had no knowledge of the world, and no firmness of character.

The right person to act as my chaperon, and to superintend my education, was the high-minded and accomplished woman who had taught his own daughters.
I declined, with all needful gratitude and respect, to take his advice.
The bare idea of living with a stranger so soon after my mother's death revolted me.

Besides, I liked my aunt, and my aunt liked me.

Being made acquainted with my decision, the head of the family cast me off, exactly as he had cast off my mother before me.
So I lived in retirement with my good aunt, and studied industriously to improve my mind until my twenty-first birthday came.