She felt few regrets at leaving Chestercote . Aunt Rebecca would not miss her ; Jane Lavinia thought that Aunt Rebecca regarded her as a nuisance -- a foolish girl who wasted her time making pictures instead of doing something useful . Jane Lavinia had never thought that Aunt Rebecca had any affection for her . She had been a very little girl when her parents had died , and Aunt Rebecca had taken her to bring up . Accordingly she had been `` brought up , '' and she was grateful to Aunt Rebecca , but there was no closer bond between them . Jane Lavinia would have given love for love unstintedly , but she never supposed that Aunt Rebecca loved her . On the morning of departure Jane Lavinia was up and ready early . Her trunk had been taken over to Mr. Whittaker 's the night before , and she was to walk over in the morning and go with Mr. and Mrs. Stephens to the station . She put on her chiffon hat to travel in , and Aunt Rebecca did not say a word of protest . Jane Lavinia cried when she said good-by , but Aunt Rebecca did not cry . She shook hands and said stiffly , `` Write when you get to New York . You need n't let Mrs. Stephens work you to death either . '' Jane Lavinia went slowly over the bridge and up the lane . If only Aunt Rebecca had been a little sorry ! But the morning was perfect and the air clear as crystal , and she was going to New York , and fame and fortune were to be hers for the working . Jane Lavinia 's spirits rose and bubbled over in a little trill of song . Then she stopped in dismay . She had forgotten her watch -- her mother 's little gold watch ; she had left it on her dressing table . Jane Lavinia hurried down the lane and back to the house . In the open kitchen doorway she paused , standing on a mosaic of gold and shadow where the sunshine fell through the morning-glory vines .
Nobody was in the kitchen , but Aunt Rebecca was XXXXX the little bedroom that opened off it , crying bitterly and talking aloud between her sobs , `` Oh , she 's gone and left me all alone -- my girl has gone !
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