13-year old Matt is spending the holidays at the dilapidated Woodhall mansion where his spirited step-sister Caroline works as a cook. In a faded rose garden called the Rose Round, Matt meets Alix, proud old Madame Ayre's granddaughter, and is introduced to the tension-filled relationship between the embittered mother and her crippled son Theo. Matt must learn to judge character rather than appearances as Theo strives to turn the house into a home for orphans. Alix, through her willful foolishness, puts Theo's life in danger and brings a dramatic confrontation: Christian hope versus fatal self-pride. A timeless book with a fast-paced plot and vivid characters.
"Gran'mère!" whispered Alix, alarmed.
There was no escape. She looked up at once and saw them.
"Alix! Who is that boy?"
"It's Matthew, Gran'mère. Miss Rendal's brother.
"I told her he was not to be allowed in the house," said Madame. She spoke English with precision and only a trace of a French accent.
"Caro didn't know," said Matt. "I met Alix in the garden."
"Come down here," said Madame, tapping the floor with her silver-headed black cane.
They went down together and came face to face with her. She had very bright brown eyes, like Rosario, Matt suddenly thought, but these were somehow hard and cold, like beads. She scrutinized Matt for a moment and then said, "I do not like this boy. He reminds me of Thèodore." She pronounced his name "Tèodore." Matt had no idea who "Thèodore" was, but it was evident that he was someone Madame did not like. She turned suddenly to a tall grey-haired man who had come in behind her. "Does he not remind you of Thèodore at that age, Godfrey?"
"A little perhaps," said he. "He's big and awkward like Theo." He pronounced the 'h' in the English way.
"Except that this one is not so ugly and does not seem to have anything wrong with him," said the old lady. She turned to Matt again, "Go back to the kitchen, boy. I do not wish to see you here again."
Matt was so furious he felt he was going to choke. He knew he had gone red in the face. He wished he could be cool and say something very crushing, but he could not speak at all.
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