Craven's father had been a Fellow of Trinity and Professor of Chinese to the University.

He had died some five years ago and now the widow and young Craven's sister lived in Cambridge.

Craven had tried, during his first term, to make a friend of Olva, but his happy, eager attitude to the whole world had seemed crude and even priggish to Olva's reserve, and all Craven's overtures had been refused, quietly, kindly, but firmly.

Craven had not resented the repulse; it was not his habit to resent anything, and as the year had passed, Olva had realized that Craven's impetuous desire for the friendship of the world was something in him perfectly natural and unforced.

Olva had discovered also that Craven's devotion to his mother and sister was the boy's leading motive in life.