It was, of course, not long before Christina became aware of the fact that her husband was on good terms again with Grace. There was a decided jealousy in Christina’s heart for her husband’s old boyish affection for his Cousin Grace, and this renewal of good fellowship between them annoyed her beyond all measure.
She took Sir Mark to task pretty sharply on the matter.
“Don’t you think it very odd that you should go out of your way to be so amiable to Grace Ambleton, when you know that she ignores my existence?” she asked him one day in her tartest tone.
And Sir Mark had answered her with a laugh.
“If it comes to that, how have you treated Grace, I should like to know? Why, you have done everything you possibly could to make her life miserable since you have come here. And why the deuce you should be so down on Grace, I can’t see.”
“She is Valentine Ambleton’s sister, that is quite enough for me. I hate him, and you know it!” Christina retorted, hot anger flaming in her cheeks.
“Well, fight out your fight with Val, and leave Grace alone. You have done your worst with her, now give her a little peace.”
It was Christina’s turn to laugh now, and she did so in her most sarcastic manner.
“Which means that I am to submit to your friendship with her and take no notice of her personal rudeness to me! Quite charming!”
Sir Mark had recourse to a shrug of his shoulders, and turned away from his wife.