. So
Dora fed the dark, bitter jealousy that had crept into her heart.

It was a proud but anxious day for Ronald when he wrote to tell his
mother that he was now the father of little twin daughters, two pretty,
fair babies, in place of the long looked-for heir of Earlescourt.

Lady Charteris was very kind to the lonely young mother--so kind that,
had she borne any other name, Dora must have loved her. A glimpse of
the old happiness came back, for Ronald was proud and pleased with the
little twin sisters.

One bright morning, when Dora had been taken down into the pretty room
where the infants lay sleeping, Lady Charteris and her daughter came
in. Ronald joined them and there was a long discussion as to the names.

"You must have an eye to the future," said Valentine, smiling. "These
little ladies will be very grand personages some day. It would be a
nice compliment to Lady Earle if you called one Helena."

"I have made my choice," said Dora, in a clear, ringing voice. "I shall
call this little one with the fair hair Lillian, the other Beatrice."

A faint flush rose to her face as she spoke. She would allow of no
interference here. This smiling beauty should not give names to her
children.

"I admire your choice," said Lady Charteris; "Beatrice and Lillian are
very pretty names."

When Valentine bent over the cradle and kissed the children before
taking leave, Dora said, "I have had my own way, you see, Miss
Charteris, with my little ones. Mr. Earle did not oppose me."

Valentine thought the words harsh and strange; she had no clew to their
meaning. 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. Little Beatrice gave promise of great beauty. She
had the Earle face, Ronald said. Lillian was a fair, sweet babe, too
gentle, her mother thought, to live.