Once Madame de Cintre told him with a little air of triumph about something that Valentin had done which she thought very much to his honor.

It was a service he had rendered to an old friend of the family; something more "serious" than Valentin was usually supposed capable of being.

Newman said he was glad to hear of it, and then began to talk about something which lay upon his own heart.

Madame de Cintre listened, but after a while she said, "I don't like the way you speak of my brother Valentin." Hereupon Newman, surprised, said that he had never spoken of him but kindly.
"It is too kindly," said Madame de Cintre.

"It is a kindness that costs nothing; it is the kindness you show to a child.