"Just that!" he sneered. With pretended indignation he went on: "And the things you were going to do for little Virgie! She was going to have a governess; she was going to learn music and painting when she grew up; she was going to have a horse. A horse! Ha! ha! The only horse she'll ever have will be a clothes-horse!!"
Hurt in her most sensitive nature, Virginia listened to his words, each one of which fell on her with the weight of a blow.
"Please, Jimmie, please!" she cried.
But he had no pity; he was ready to inflict any suffering so long as it did not hurt himself and it accomplished his object.
"Yes," he went on, "and she'll have to do the same as Fanny does, break her back washing the things to put over it! And why? Because you think more of your 'principles' than you do of your relations. Because you think only of yourself. Because you're selfish. That's why!"
Almost in tears, Virginia put out her hand, pleading to him to desist.
"Stop, please!" she cried. "Don't you see how nervous and tired I am?"
At that instant Fanny re-entered with the tea things, in time to hear her sister's cry of distress. Turning indignantly to her husband, she said:
"You behave yourself! What have you been saying to her, anyway?"
He shrugged his shoulders as he replied carelessly: