She had not wanted a little girl at all, and when Mary was born she handed her over to the care of an Ayah, who was made to understand that if she wished to please the Mem Sahib she must keep the child out of sight as much as possible." Chapter 1, The Secret Garden, paragraph 1.
-- Narrator (Chapter 1 paragraph 1)

Importance: The fact that she was never wanted and never loved explains why Mary became such a lonely, unpleasant child.

If she had been older she would no doubt have been very anxious at being left alone in the world, but she was very young, and as she had always been taken care of, she supposed she always would be." Chapter 1, The Secret Garden, paragraph 1.
-- Narrator (Chapter 2 paragraph 1)

Importance: In this section, the narrator provides a glimpse into Mary's mindset after the death of her parents. She is not concerned about her future. Since her parents have never been the...