How marvellous the pictures were, and the gardens; what an acquisition to his life was the friendship--not only the acquaintanceship--of St Aubyn; and then the tapestries, the great mysterious hall, and the strange revelations that had come upon him in the hall itself! At last his thoughts reverted, half in self-reproach, to Aunt Charlotte.

How had she fared, meanwhile?
Had she enjoyed her Cobbledicks and her MacTavishes as much as he had enjoyed his experiences at the Court?
For all his theories about living his own life and developing his own individuality, Austin was not a selfish boy.

Egoistic he might be, but selfish he was not.

His impulses were always generous and kindly, and he was full of thought for others.

He was for ever contriving delicate little gifts for those in want, planning pleasant little surprises for people whom he loved.