Her daughter's future was obviously assured, and even as to her son Stevie she need have no anxiety.

She had not been able to conceal from herself that he was a terrible encumbrance, that poor Stevie.

But in view of Winnie's fondness for her delicate brother, and of Mr Verloc's kind and generous disposition, she felt that the poor boy was pretty safe in this rough world.

And in her heart of hearts she was not perhaps displeased that the Verlocs had no children.

As that circumstance seemed perfectly indifferent to Mr Verloc, and as Winnie found an object of quasi-maternal affection in her brother, perhaps this was just as well for poor Stevie.
For he was difficult to dispose of, that boy.