Hester, on the contrary, was a dark little thing, whose best frock was always red.
As for the boys--it doesn't matter what boys are like; but Gregory, I might say, usually had black hands: not because he was naturally a grubby little beast, but because engineers do.

Robert, on the contrary, was disposed to be dressy, and he declined to allow his mother or Janet to buy his socks or neckties without first consulting him as to colours.
Among the friends of the family must be put first Uncle Chris, who was Captain Avory's brother and a lawyer in Golden Square.

Uncle Chris looked after Mrs.Avory's money and gave advice.

He was very nice, and came to dinner every Sunday (hot roast beef and horse radish sauce).
There was an Aunt Chris, too, but she was an invalid and could not leave her room, where she lay all the time and remembered birthdays.
Next to Uncle Chris came Mr.Scott, who was a famous author and a very good cricketer on the lawn, and Mr.Lenox, who was private secretary to a real lord, and therefore had lots of time and money.

Both Mr.Scott and Mr.Lenox were bachelors, as the best friends of families always are; unless, of course, their wives are invalids.
Gregory, who was more social than Robert, also knew one policeman, one coachman, three chauffeurs, and several Chiswick boatmen extremely intimately.