They seem, in spite of lack of money, to have been supremely happy for about three years, when young Taunton was killed playing polo.
The poor girl broke her heart and slipped out of life, leaving behind one little boy.

She had no relations, and Captain Taunton had no one very near, and when she was dying she had left instructions.

'Send my boy to Scotland.

Ask Jean to bring him up.

She will understand.' I suppose she had detected even in the schoolgirl of fourteen Jean's most outstanding quality, steadfastness, and entrusted the child to her without a qualm.
"So the baby of two was sent to the child of eighteen, and Jean glows with gratitude and tells you how good it was of her at-one-time stepmother to think of her! That is how she seems to take life: no suspecting of motives: looking for, therefore perhaps finding, kindness on every side.