To do her justice, she had never considered the possibility that her father might have money to bequeath; his disclosure surprised her, and caused her to reflect for the first time that Chaffey's head waiter had long held a tolerably lucrative position, whilst his expenses must have been trivial; so much the better for her.

On the other hand, she strongly resented his suspicions and warnings.

In the muddled obscurity of Polly's consciousness there was a something which stood for womanly pride.

She knew very well what dangers perpetually surrounded her, and she contrasted herself with the girls who weakly, or recklessly, threw themselves away.

Divided thus between injury and gratitude she speedily answered her father's letter, writing upon a sheet of scented grass-green note-paper, deeply ribbed, which made her pen blot, splutter, and sprawl far more than it would have done on a smooth surface.
"DEAR DAD, "In reply to yours, what I have to say is, Aunt Louisa and Mrs.Bubb are nasty cats, and I don't think them for making a bother.