Dr.Ransford spoke of these two as his wards, without further explanation; the society of the Close was beginning to want much more explanation.

Who were they--these two young people?
Was Dr.
Ransford their uncle, their cousin--what was he to them?
In any case, in the opinion of the elderly ladies who set the tone of society in Wrychester, Miss Bewery was much too young, and far too pretty, to be left without a chaperon.

But, up to then, no one had dared to say as much to Dr.Ransford--instead, everybody said it freely behind his back.
Bryce had used eyes and ears in relation to the two young people.

He had been with Ransford a year when they arrived; admitted freely to their company, he had soon discovered that whatever relationship existed between them and Ransford, they had none with anybody else--that they knew of.

No letters came for them from uncles, aunts, cousins, grandfathers, grandmothers.