Though her eldest son was thirty, she was, herself, still little more than fifty.

From her voice, manner, and whole personality, one might suspect that she had been an acknowledged beauty; but there was now more than a suspicion of maturity about her almost jovial face, with its full grey-blue eyes; and coarsened complexion.

Good comrade, and essentially 'woman of the world,' was written on every line of her, and in every tone of her voice.

She was indeed a figure suggestive of open air and generous living, endowed with abundant energy, and not devoid of humour.

It was she who answered Agatha's remark.
"Of course, my dear, the very best thing possible." Lord Harbinger chimed in: "By the way, Brabrook's going to speak on it.