It is rather absurd in this wicked world, but I shouldn't wonder if it made for happiness.
"The Taunton child has, of course, no shadow of claim on the Jardines, but he is to them a most treasured little brother.

'The Mhor,' as they call him, is their great amusement and delight.

He is quite absurdly good-looking, with great grave green eyes and a head most wonderfully set on his shoulders.

He has a small income of his own, which Jean keeps religiously apart so that he may be able to go to a good school when he is old enough.
"The great-aunt who brought up the Jardines must have been an uncommon old woman.

She died (perhaps luckily) just as the young Gervase Taunton came on the scene.
"It seems she always dressed in rustling black silk, sat bolt upright on the edge of chairs for the sake of her figure, took the greatest care of her hands and complexion, and was a great age.