upstairs. Annette gave all the directions.

But when later on Connie was sitting at her new writing-table
contemplating her transformed room with a childish satisfaction, Nora
knocked and came in.

She walked up to Connie, and stood looking down upon her. She was very
red, and her eyes sparkled.

"I want to tell you that I am disappointed in you--dreadfully
disappointed in you!" said the girl fiercely.

"What do you mean!" Constance rose in amazement.

"Why didn't you insist on my father's buying these things? You ought to
have insisted. You pay us a large sum, and you had a right. Instead, you
have humiliated us--because you are rich, and we are poor! It was
mean--and purse-proud."

"How dare you say such things?" cried Connie. "You mustn't come into my
room at all, if you are going to behave like this. You know very well I
didn't do it unkindly. It is you who are unkind! But of course it
doesn't matter. You don't understand. You are only a child!" Her
voice shook.

"I am not a child!" said Nora indignantly. "And I believe I know a great
deal more about money than you do--because you have never been poor. I
have to keep all the accounts here, and make mother and Alice pay their
debts. Father, of course, is always too busy to think of such things.
Your money is dreadfully useful to us. I wish it wasn't. But I wanted to