Mary Lennox was born in India to a British father and beautiful mother. When both of her parents and her Indian servant Kamala died, Mary was sent to live with her uncle Mr. Archibald Craven in his large, neglected house in Yorkshire, England. Mary is described as having a thin, angry face and thin yellow hair. She finds the housekeeper Mrs. Medlock to be cross and unpleasant, but likes Martha, the happy housekeeper.