Mr. Barlow laughed, "I am afraid that you cannot make out a very strong case of cruelty to children unless you can prove the existence of the children."
"Oh, well," interposed Mrs. Barlow, to prevent that ruffling of Brenda's feelings which was sure to follow when she felt that some one was laughing at her, "There is not much doubt that there are one or two grandchildren for whom Madame du Launy ought to do something. I forget what I have heard about it myself, but I could make enquiries."
"Oh, Julia will soon be able to tell us more about Madame du Launy and her grandchildren than anybody else ever dreamed of," said Brenda, a little spitefully, as she left the room.
"Poor Brenda," murmured Mr. Barlow, "will she ever overcome that spirit of jealousy?"
XXI
MISS SOUTH AND JULIA
"You can say what you like," said Belle to Brenda when the latter told her of Julia's adventure with the dog, "but I think that it was downright mean in her to go to Madame du Launy's in that sneaking kind of way."
"Why, Belle, it wasn't sneaking. What was she to do with the little dog? She couldn't leave it on the street."
"Well, she knew how anxious we all were to see the inside of that house, and the least that she could do was to invite some of us to go with her."