justin was well aware that his grandmother had lost no time in gathering this orphaned chick into her own household as her companion after eleanor had been left alone in the world , following the death of her mother and stepfather , justin 's own profligate cousin frederick ; edith st just might like to give the outward appearance of haughtiness and disdain , but to any who knew her well , it was an outer shell which hid a soft and yielding heart .