He sent in his card, and asked for Polly, and the maid ushered him into the well-worn library.
“If she is only a little like her sister she should be at least attractive,” Sacha said to himself; and he waited Polly’s coming with much interest.
Her first appearance was not effective, but as she lifted her eyes and looked at him, half inquiringly, Sacha, in an instant, understood the situation.
“Why, she is beautiful, quite beautiful!” Sacha said to himself.
He invented, as an excuse, a desire to see the drawing room, and he lingered a long while with Polly, talking over the plan of turning it into a studio quite gravely.
It amused him immensely to see in this an opportunity of disputing with Valentine for the friendship of this girl. He promised himself the pleasure of wiping off several old scores through Polly.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE CAUSE OF STRIFE.
The death of old Lady Wentworth had been a relief to Christina.
She had never pretended any regret or sympathy for her husband’s grandmother, therefore she did not pose as a mourner when the end came, and she had a sneer for Sir Mark when he expressed a sorrow that, if incomprehensible to her, was real enough.
“He only does this because he thinks it will please that odious Grace. Of course she will be plunged into grief, and everybody will believe it is real. Perhaps, when she realizes how much her grandmother cared for her, she may cease shedding tears.”