sentence structure

tinanam0102by claiming that she made the match herself.

This is a prepositional phrase adverbial to the predicate.

Hi Mister Micawber,

Does the sentence read like this:

In being left alone with her aging father, Emma takes solace by claiming that she made the match herself.

Or

Emma takes solace in two ways:
1. Being left alone with her aging father.
2. By claiming that she made the match herself.

Thanks
Tinanam

First, the sentence does not read that way: there is no 'in'. It reads:

Emma takes some solace in being left alone with her aging father by claiming that she made the match herself.

Emma takes solace in one way: By claiming that she made the match herself.

Hi Mister Micawber,

Is it correct to say:

Being alone with her aging father, Emma takes solace in by claiming that she made the match herself.

Thanks
Tinanam

No, you cannot use 'in by'.

Hi Miste Micawber,

I understand now Emma only takes some solace in one way. But when you say there's no 'in', however, the original sentence does have an 'in' in it. Do you mean the original sentence shouldn't have 'in' in it? What is the need of 'being left alone with her aging father' for?

Emma takes some solace in being left alone with her aging father by

My mistake. The 'in' in the original is OK. You still cannot use 'in by'.

Thanks Mister Micawber.