Winnie faced her wrathful parent, looking at him defiantly.
“His father is not alive. He was first-mate on a collier trading from Newcastle.”
“That, I should imagine, as a profession, was neither lucrative nor clean,” said Lady Sophia, in her placid way.
Canon Spratte gave a savage laugh.
“At least it’s something to be thankful for that his relations are dead.”
“He has a mother and a sister,” said Winnie.
“And who are they, I should like to know?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care. He has told me already that his mother is not a very highly-educated woman.”
“So I should suppose. Where do they live?”