Regiment of Women

"[...] She had rubbed her hands together, shrewd eyes a-twinkle. "I knew what I was doing! How long have you been with me, Henrietta? Twelve years ago, eh? Ah, well, it's longer ago than that. Let me see-she's twenty-eight now, Clare Hartill-and she left me at sixteen. A responsibility, a great responsibility. An orphan-too much money. A difficult child-I spent a lot of time on her, and prayer, too, my dear. Well, I don't regret it now. When I met her at Bournemouth that day-oh, I wasn't pleased with you, Henrietta! It has taken me forty years to build up my school, and I can't be ill two months, [...]."