When Miss Charteris
rode out he accompanied her; he liked to meet her at parties and
balls. He would have thought a day sad and dark wherein he did
not see her.
When the little ones reached their first birthday, Valentine,
with her usual kind thought, purchased a grand assortment of
toys, and drove over quite unexpectedly to the villa. It was not
a very cheerful scene which met her gaze.
Ronald was busily engaged in writing. Dora, flushed and worn,
was vainly trying to stop the cries of one child, while the other
pulled at her dress. 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.
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