She could not have imagined Dora jealous of her.

She made some laughing reply, and passed on.

Dora was not lonely now, the care of the little ones occupying her whole time; but, far from their binding Ronald to his home, he became more estranged from it than ever.
The pretty, picturesque villa was very small; there was no room available for a nursery.

Wherever Dora sat, there must the little ones be; and although they were very charming to the mother and the nurse, the continued cries and noise irritated Ronald greatly.

Then he grew vexed; Dora cried, and said he did not love them, and so the barrier grew day by day between those who should have been all in all to each other.
The children grew.