When Christopher Holland brought Victoria as mistress to the house where his mother had toiled , and suffered , and ruled with her rod of iron , Eunice was gone . In Charles Holland 's household she took Electa 's place -- an unpaid upper servant . Charles and Caroline were kind enough to her , and there was plenty to do . For five years her dull , colorless life went on , during which time she never crossed the threshold of the house where Victoria Holland ruled with a sway as absolute as Naomi 's had been . Caroline 's curiosity led her , after her first anger had cooled , to make occasional calls , the observations of which she faithfully reported to Eunice . The latter never betrayed any interest in them , save once . This was when Caroline came home full of the news that Victoria had had the room where Naomi died opened up , and showily furnished as a parlor . Then Eunice 's sallow face crimsoned , and her eyes flashed , over the desecration . But no word of comment or complaint ever crossed her lips . She knew , as every one else knew , that the glamor soon went from Christopher Holland 's married life . The marriage proved an unhappy one . Not unnaturally , although unjustly , Eunice blamed Victoria for this , and hated her more than ever for it . Christopher seldom came to Charles ' house . Possibly he felt ashamed . He had grown into a morose , silent man , at home and abroad . It was said he had gone back to his old drinking habits . One fall Victoria Holland went to town to visit her married sister . She took their only child with her . In her absence Christopher kept house for himself . It was a fall long remembered in Avonlea .
With the dropping of the leaves , and the shortening of the dreary days , the shadow XXXXX a fear fell over the land .
For after although as during from into of on over