I only hope you won't be sorry for it."
When three more years had passed Christopher began to court
Victoria Pye. The affair went on for some time before either
Eunice or the Hollands go wind of it. When they did there was an
explosion. Between the Hollands and the Pyes, root and branch,
existed a feud that dated back for three generations. That the
original cause of the quarrel was totally forgotten did not
matter; it was matter of family pride that a Holland should have
no dealings with a Pye.
When Christopher flew so openly in the face of this cherished
hatred, there could be nothing less than consternation. Charles
Holland broke through his determination to have nothing to do
with Christopher, to remonstrate. Caroline went to Eunice in as
much of a splutter as if Christopher had been her own brother.
Eunice did not care a row of pins for the Holland-Pye feud.
Victoria was to her what any other girl, upon whom Christopher
cast eyes of love, would have been--a supplanter. For the first
time in her life she was torn with passionate jealousy; existence
became a nightmare to her. Urged on by Caroline, and her own
pain, she ventured to remonstrate with Christopher, also. She
had expected a burst of rage, but he was surprisingly
good-natured. He seemed even amused.
"What have you got against Victoria?" he asked, tolerantly.
Eunice had no answer ready. It was true that nothing could be
said against the girl.
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