“Anyhow, it is a splendid idea!” Polly cried, and she went downstairs almost buoyantly.
Valentine heard all about this same idea when he arrived.
It annoyed him to find Grace eager to help Polly to help herself. It was perhaps wrong of Valentine, but the truth was, he by no means shared Polly’s regret over her failure to make her own way. Her failure was to be his chance.
He therefore snubbed Grace’s idea from the outset.
“I am sorry you have suggested this to Miss Pennington, for it will only mean another disappointment. The idea is not in the least degree feasible.”
“Oh! Val, why? The room would want some alterations, I grant, but with very little cost it could be transformed into a beautiful studio.”
“The shape of the room has nothing to do with it,” Valentine said, irritably. “It is the suggestion of admitting a stranger, and in particular, an artist, into the house.”
Sacha looked up at this, much amused.
He saw his brother was out of temper, and he sought about for a clew as to the cause of this.
“I say, Val, not so violent. What have we poor artists done to call down your wrath on our heads?”