It was not as if my mother was around to lend a hand  she had died early in my childhood and my father had brought me and Maurice up Maurice was two years younger than I was and because he was motherless early in our lives I got into the habit of taking care of him It was not a hardship I loved Maurice Because the business was so successful we lived in a good deal of luxury  in a big house in London posh schools for both of us nice clothes parties theatres operas My father knew all kinds of people  politicians actors businessmen  and our house buzzed with good talk and interesting encounters