He acted as her almoner and secretary as well as her steward--distributed her charities, wrote her letters on business, paid her bills, engaged her servants, stocked her wine-cellar, was authorized to borrow books from her library, and was served with his meals in his own room.

His parentage gave him claims to these special favors; he was by birth entitled to rank as a gentleman.

His father had failed at a time of commercial panic as a country banker, had paid a good dividend, and had died in exile abroad a broken-hearted man.

Robert had tried to hold his place in the world, but adverse fortune kept him down.
Undeserved disaster followed him from one employment to another, until he abandoned the struggle, bade a last farewell to the pride of other days, and accepted the position considerately and delicately offered to him in Lady Lydiard's house.

He had now no near relations living, and he had never made many friends.