Nothing is impossible to a determined woman. - Louisa May Alcott

(...)love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go, and it makes the end so easy.

[F]or in this queer world of ours, fatherly and motherly hearts often beat warm and wise in the breasts of bachelor uncles and maiden aunts; and it is my private opinion that these worthy creatures are a beautiful provision of nature for the cherishing of other people's children. They certainly get great comfort out of it, and receive much innocent affection that otherwise would be lost.

So she enjoyed herself heartily, and found, what isn't always the case, that her granted wish was all she had hoped.