somebody for David to play with," Mrs. Richie said, looking down
at the little nestling thing, who at that moment stopped
nestling, and dropping down on toes and finger-tips, loped up--on
very long hind-legs, to the confusion of her elders, who
endeavored not to see her peculiar attitude--and, putting a paw
into David's pocket, abstracted a marble. There was an instant
explosion, in which David, after securing his property through
violent exertions, sought, as a matter of pure justice, to pull
the bear's hair. But when Mrs. Richie interfered, separating the
combatants with horrified apologies for her young man's conduct,
Elizabeth's squeals stopped abruptly. She stood panting, her eyes
still watering with David's tug at her hair; the dimple in her
right cheek began to lengthen into a hard line.

"You are very naughty, David," said Mrs. Richie, sternly; "you
must beg Elizabeth's pardon at once!" At which Elizabeth burst
out:

"Stop! Don't scold him. It was my fault. I did it--taking his
marble. I'll--I'll bite my arm if you scold David!"

"Elizabeth!" protested her uncle; "I'm ashamed of you!"

But Elizabeth was indifferent to his shame; she was hugging David
frantically. "I hate, I hate, I _hate_ your mother--if she
does have rings!" Her face was so convulsed with rage that Mrs.
Richie actually recoiled before it; Elizabeth, still clamoring,
saw that involuntary start of horror. Instantly she was calm; but
she shrank away almost out of the room. It seemed as if at that
moment some veil, cold and impenetrable, fell between the gentle