The anxious, dreary face struck Valentine with pain.

She laid the parcel of toys down, and shook hands with Ronald, who looked somewhat ashamed of the aspect of affairs.

Then, turning to Dora, she took the child from her arms, and little Beatrice, looking at her with wondering eyes, forgot to cry.
"You are not strong enough, Dora, to nurse this heavy child," said Miss Charteris.

"Why do you not find some one to help you ?" "We can not afford it," said Ronald, gloomily.
"We spend too much in gloves and horses," added Dora, bitterly; but no sooner were the words spoken than she would have given the world to recall them.
Ronald made no reply, and Valentine, anxious to avert the storm she had unwittingly raised, drew attention to the toys.
When Valentine left them, Dora and Ronald had their first quarrel long and bitter.

He could ill brook the insult her words implied--spoken before Valentine, too!--and she for the first time showed him how an undisciplined, untrained nature can throw off the restraint of good manners and good breeding.