She had a nice sitting room of her own, where she sat comfortably every afternoon when such work as she did was done, and received visits from her pets, as she called the children (none of whom, however, was quite so dear to her as their mother), and listened to their adventures.
On those evenings on which he came to "The Gables" Mr.Lenox always looked in on her for a little gossip; and this was called his "runcible spoon"-- the joke being that Mr.Lenox and Runcie were engaged to be married.
And now you know the Avory family root and branch..