She fell into the moody, miserable state of mind which often comes when strong wills have to yield to the inevitable.

During the fifteen minutes that followed, the proud and sensitive girl suffered a shame and pain which she never forgot. To others it might seem a ludicrous or trivial affair, but to her it was a hard experience, for during the twelve years of her life she had been governed by love alone

…often between ourselves and those nearest and dearest to us there exists a reserve which it is very hard to overcome.

My book came out; and people began to think that topsy-turvy Louisa would amount to something after all.

It takes so little to make a child happy, that it is a pity in a world full of sunshine and pleasant things, that there should be any wistful faces, empty hands, or lonely little hearts.

... because I have fallen in love with so many pretty girls and never once the least bit with any man.

Right Jo better be happy old maids than unhappy wives or unmaidenly girls running about to find husbands.