he could see the boy 's origins-the middle of nine children , but the eldest boy , son of an overbearing father and a mother who dealt with this by means of subterfuge and quiet malice-sprouting in a delicate array from the rather pointed top of his head , his religion-lutheran , but slack about it-a lacy spray under an equally pointed chin , his relation with robin-cordial , but wary , as befitted a new son-in-law who was also an apprentice-extending like a fanned spike from his right ear , that with ute-a mix of terror and helpless abashment-from the left .