For the first time, perhaps, in their lives, the family sat round the breakfast-table in painful silence.

Mr.Vanstone's hearty morning appetite, like his hearty morning spirits, was gone.

He absently broke off some morsels of dry toast from the rack near him, absently finished his first cup of tea--then asked for a second, which he left before him untouched.
"Norah," he said, after an interval, "you needn't wait for me.

Magdalen, my dear, you can go when you like." His daughters rose immediately; and Miss Garth considerately followed their example.

When an easy-tempered man does assert himself in his family, the rarity of the demonstration invariably has its effect; and the will of that easy-tempered man is Law.
"What can have happened ?" whispered Norah, as they closed the breakfast-room door and crossed the hall.
"What does papa mean by being cross with Me ?" exclaimed Magdalen, chafing under a sense of her own injuries.
"May I ask--what right you had to pry into your father's private affairs ?" retorted Miss Garth.
"Right ?" repeated Magdalen.