The Mystery of Mrs. Blencarrow

by Mrs. Oliphant

When Mrs Blencarrow's husband died a few years ago, his will left the management of the estate and the trusteeship of the children in her hands, adding as well her brothers' names as trustees, though this was more for form's sake than anything else. And since then (her eldest son still not of age), she has managed everything well with only a young man, Mr Brown the steward, to assist - a young man who belongs to a lower class and stays well in the background. Early in the novel there are hints...