Mr.Athel brought him to London, and the family went down at once to their house in Surrey.

Wilfrid was an only son and an only child.

His father had been a widower for nearly ten years; for the last three his house had been directed by a widowed sister, Mrs.Rossall, who had twin girls.

Mr.
Athel found it no particular hardship to get away from town and pursue his work at The Firs, a delightful house in the midst of Surrey's fairest scenery, nor would Mrs.Rossall allow that the surrender of high season cost her any effort.

This lady had just completed her thirty-second year; her girls were in their tenth.