The last squire dragged out his existence there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he established a large practice.

In a fit of anger, however, caused by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital sentence.

As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man.
"When Dr.Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs.Stoner, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery.
My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old at the time of my mother's re-marriage.

She had a considerable sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she bequeathed to Dr.Roylott entirely while we resided with him, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to each of us in the event of our marriage.

Shortly after our return to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a railway accident near Crewe.