He could not , and would not , do without her . No arrangement suggested by Caroline availed to pacify him , and , in the end , Eunice refused to marry Edward Bell . She could not leave Christopher , she said simply , and in this she stood rock-firm . Caroline could not budge her an inch . `` You 're a fool , Eunice , '' she said , when she was obliged to give up in despair . `` It 's not likely you 'll ever have another chance . As for Chris , in a year or two he 'll be marrying himself , and where will you be then ? You 'll find your nose nicely out of joint when he brings a wife in here . '' The shaft went home . Eunice 's lips turned white . But she said , faintly , `` The house is big enough for us both , if he does . '' Caroline sniffed . `` Maybe so . You 'll find out . However , there 's no use talking . You 're as set as your mother was , and nothing would ever budge her an inch . I only hope you wo n'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 XXXXX three generations .
Bell Pye for if in rock-firm to without year years