Aunt Viney {short for 'Lavinia'}, viewed in the grey daylight that came in through the dining-room window, was always a rather imposing spectacle. She was fifty-one years of age, and had large staring eyes, quick bustling movements, more than a tendency to stoutness, a menacing optimism that was not quite matched by a sense of humour, and the most decided opinions upon everything. She was an excellent 'manager', and for more than a decade had lived at the Manse with her sister and brother-in-law and their children {there had been boys at one time}, looking after them all with undoubted if rather relentless competence.
( James Hilton )
[ The Definitive James Hilton ]
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