Explore "The Mystery Queen" by Fergus Hume on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The year ended sadly for Lillian, since she had lost her father, her lover, and her home, gaining instead the doubtful companionship of a paternal uncle, who stepped into the position of guardian. The girl, although she did not know it at the time, was leaving a pleasant flowery lane to turn into a flinty high road, arched by a dismal sky. It is true that she still possessed Mrs. Bolstreath to comfort her, but the loss of Dan could scarcely be compensated by the attentions of the chaperon. Not that Halliday was altogether lost; but he had been pushed out of her life by Sir John Moon, who approved as little of this suitor as the late baronet had done.
-"You see, my dear child," he explained to Lillian, immediately after the new year and when things were more restful, "as your guardian and uncle, I have to see that you make a good match."