Mother's sister evidently.

Wynter's sisters would never have been old maids, if they had resembled him, which probably they did--if he had any.

What a handsome fellow he was! and such a good-natured fellow too.
The professor colors here in his queer sensitive way, and pushes his spectacles up and down his nose, in another nervous fashion of his.
After all, it was only this minute he had been accusing old Wynter of anything but good nature.

Well! He had wronged him there.

He glances at the letter again.
He has only been appointed her guardian, it seems.