CHAPTER II
關燈
小
中
大
werelighteduntilthetwenty-firstofOctoberbythecalendar.Onthetwenty-firstofOctoberMrs.Frederickbegancookingoverthekitchenrangeandlightedafireinthesitting-roomstoveintheevenings.ItwaswhisperedaboutintheconnectionthatthelateFrederickStirlinghadcaughtthecoldwhichresultedinhisdeathduringValancy’sfirstyearoflifebecauseMrs.FrederickwouldnothaveafireonthetwentiethofOctober.Shelighteditthenextday—butthatwasadaytoolateforFrederickStirling.
Valancytookoffandhungupintheclosethernightdressofcoarse,unbleachedcotton,withhighneckandlong,tightsleeves.Sheputonundergarmentsofasimilarnature,adressofbrowngingham,thick,blackstockingsandrubber-heeledboots.Oflateyearsshehadfallenintothehabitofdoingherhairwiththeshadeofthewindowbythelooking-glasspulleddown.Thelinesonherfacedidnotshowsoplainlythen.Butthismorningshejerkedtheshadetotheverytopandlookedatherselfintheleprousmirrorwithapassionatedeterminationtoseeherselfastheworldsawher.
Theresultwasratherdreadful.Evenabeautywouldhavefoundthatharsh,unsoftenedside-lighttrying.Valancysawstraightblackhair,shortan
