There was an element of spitefulness in Sacha’s speech.
He had been by no means averse to a flirtation with Christina, and his vanity rebelled now against her determined admiration for Valentine.
He had done his best to make her uncomfortable in this matter by insinuating little things about Valentine’s growing attachment to Polly, but he had evidently not upset her very much.
As to Sacha himself, he had the double dissatisfaction of knowing that while Christina’s ambition drew her toward his brother, leaving him in the cold, Polly, whom he really admired, treated him with an indifference passing almost beyond the limits of courtesy.
With Grace alone was Polly her own sweet, lovable self, and Grace had fast grown to care for the girl as though she were a sister.
It was Grace who came to Polly’s rescue when Christina, having carried the day, had been duly installed in her old home. It was impossible for Grace to shut her eyes to the fact that Polly was not merely looking tired and ill, but was tired, and ill also in mind and in body.
After Christina’s arrival there seemed to be no more peace or pleasure for Polly in her home.
It had been necessary, of course, to engage another servant to wait as much on Lady Wentworth’s smart maid as upon anybody, and despite this extra help, Christina made large demands on everybody in the house. Mrs. Pennington found herself trotting to and fro constantly, but this rousing did Mrs. Pennington no harm; the harm was being done to Polly.
Grace continued her daily visits to the house just the same after Christina’s appearance there, but both she and Mark’s widow avoided each other as by mutual consent, and her visit was paid to Polly alone. She always found the girl deep in household duties. The quiet life Polly and her mother had lived together this past twelve months had come to a complete end. Mrs. Pennington was always now with Christina, and Polly could not grudge her this, since Christina was able to give her mother so much that she needed.
The wonderful part of it all to Polly was the fact that Christina should all at once evince such a desire for her mother’s companionship. Polly was not to know what an important part her poor, simple, unconscious and loving mother was being made to play in Christina’s scheme of winning Valentine.