“Oh, Pola—she’ll hear you!” pleaded Sidney.
She hated herself because she did not tell Pola at once how bravely Mart shouldered her responsibilities, about gran’ma, who looked to Mart for everything. Instead she simply walked along with Pola and let Pola giggle. Pola, sensing Sidney’s feelings, slipped her arm through hers and gave it an affectionate little squeeze.
“You’re such a funny child,” she said softly. “You’d be nice to anything. I can’t, of course, for I go around to so many places and mother’s warned me often about strangers. Anyway, it’s lots nicer for just us two to be together, isn’t it?”
But in spite of Pola’s soft flattery and countless lumps of sugar the tea tasted bitter to Sidney and the Green Lantern, with its futurist awnings, its bizarre hangings and cushions, had no allure. The thought came suddenly to Sidney that it had been a whole week since she had even seen Mart; in that time she had scarcely exchanged more than a half dozen words with Lavender.
To the tune of Pola’s ceaseless chatter Sidney’s thoughts kept darting back to that uncomfortable fact. Pola always talked of things she had done at home, abroad, at school, of her boy friends whom she called “men.” She liked to hint of countless “affairs” which simply must not come to her mother’s attention, assuring Sidney that she was absolutely the only one to whom she confided these deep intrigues. She had worn Guy Townsend’s fraternity pin the whole winter before and not a soul had known whose pin it was for Guy was tabooed by mothers in general and Mrs. Allan in particular. Now Pola was simply crazy over a Jack Sicard who was playing the lead in “Hearts Aquiver.” But not even Jack’s manly beauty, as described by Pola, failed to draw from Sidney more than a mild: “He must be cute.” Pola gave way to vexation.
“You’re scarcely listening to me, Sidney Romley, when I’m telling you things I haven’t told a soul! I believe you’re still thinking of that ridiculous girl we met.”
“She isn’t ridiculous!” Sidney was prompt enough now in Mart’s defense. “She looks funny, but you see I’ve gotten well acquainted with her and she’s awfully nice.”
“Oh, nice, of course! But anyone can be nice! You know perfectly well, Sidney, that there’s as much class in this country as there is in Europe and being nice does not break down social barriers.”
Sidney had no answer ready for this. Curiously into her mind flashed what Mr. Dugald had said about the solid aristocracy. But somehow she knew Pola would not understand this. Pola went on:
“I’m a dreadful little snob, anyway. But I suppose that is the result of my education. It would be funny to go to the most expensive schools and have all the culture that Europe can offer and not be a snob.”