He didn't mean any harm, Miss Bawn." So it was Richard Dawson, the only son of the rich money-lender, on whom we of the older, more exclusive gentry turn our backs.

He had been wild in his boyhood, and had quarrelled with his father and flung himself off to America.

We had not heard of his return.
I noticed half consciously the pleading look of Nora's blue eyes under their black lashes.

Why was the child so much concerned at what had offended me?
But I hardly thought of her.
I was thinking with an unreasonable wave of repulsion that I should doubtless meet Richard Dawson, if not in the drawing-rooms of our friends at least about our quiet lanes and roads, where hitherto there had been nothing to fear.

I wished he had stayed in America; and on one subject I made up my mind.