Other girls had parents, brothers and sisters, and still more distant relatives upon whom their capacity for loving might severally expend itself.

Sara had none of these, and the whole devotion of her intensely ardent nature lavished itself upon the man whom she called uncle.
Their mutual attitude was something more than the accepted relationship implied.

They were friends--these two--intimate friends, comrades on an equal footing, respecting each other's reserves and staunchly loyal to one another.

Perhaps this was accounted for in a measure by the very fact that they were united by no actual bond of blood.

That Sara was Patrick's niece by adoption was all the explanation of her presence at Barrow Court that he had ever vouchsafed to the world in general, and it practically amounted to the sum total of Sara's own knowledge of the matter.
Hers had been a life of few relationships.