Neither was he less devoted to his mother, dutiful to his father, or loving to his brother, because they were good, honest, plain farmers, and he a clergyman; or which was, perhaps, more to the point, because Miss Gwynne could not, or would not separate him from his family.
When he and his brother and sister were children, they were constantly at the vicarage with their uncle and aunt, and Miss Gwynne was their playmate there, and had not known their inferiority.

Now that he really was a man of education and a gentleman, in spite of all her kindness to his mother, she knew it full well.

Why did he never consider what any one else in his own neighbourhood thought of him or his family?
It was only Miss Gwynne--always Miss Gwynne.
Early the following morning that young lady came to inquire for Mrs Prothero, accompanied by Miss Hall.

It was Rowland who gave them the joyful intelligence that his mother had had a good night, and was much more quiet.

The real pleasure that shone from Miss Gwynne's intelligent and intelligible eyes, showed Rowland how fond she was of his mother.
'And now,' she said, 'Miss Hall and I are come, resolutely bent on remaining with your mother, whilst your aunt and Gladys go to bed.