There was something in her that demanded expression thus . When Mr. Stephens , who was a well-known artist and magazine illustrator , came to Chestercote because his wife 's father , Nathan Whittaker , was ill , Jane Lavinia 's heart had bounded with a shy hope . She indulged in some harmless manoeuvring which , with the aid of good-natured Mrs. Whittaker , was crowned with success . One day , when Mr. Whittaker was getting better , Mr. Stephens had asked her to show him some of her work . Jane Lavinia , wearing the despised sailor hat , had gone over to the Whittaker place with some of her best sketches . She came home again feeling as if all the world and herself were transfigured . She looked out from the window of her little room with great dreamy brown eyes , seeing through the fir boughs the golden western sky beyond , serving as a canvas whereon her fancy painted glittering visions of her future . She would go to New York -- and study -- and work , oh , so hard -- and go abroad -- and work harder -- and win success -- and be great and admired and famous -- if only Aunt Rebecca -- ah ! if only Aunt Rebecca ! Jane Lavinia sighed . There was spring in the world and spring in Jane Lavinia 's heart ; but a chill came with the thought of Aunt Rebecca , who considered tidies and afghans nicer than her pictures . `` But I 'm going , anyway , '' said Jane Lavinia decidedly . `` If Aunt Rebecca wo n't give me the money , I 'll find some other way . I 'm not afraid of any amount of work . After what Mr. Stephens said , I believe I could work twenty hours out of the twenty-four . I 'd be content to live on a crust and sleep in a garret -- yes , and wear sailor hats with stiff bows and blue roses the year round . '' Jane Lavinia sighed in luxurious renunciation . Oh , it was good to be alive -- to be a girl of seventeen , with wonderful ambitions and all the world before her ! The years of the future sparkled and gleamed alluringly . Jane Lavinia , with her head on the window sill , looked out into the sunset splendour and dreamed .
Athwart her dreams , rending XXXXX twain their frail , rose-tinted fabric , came Aunt Rebecca 's voice from the kitchen below , `` Jane Lavinia !
After before from if in into of on than through