CHAPTER II

llington,whoalwaysenunciatedcommonplacesasifutteringprofoundandimportanttruths. Valancyhadhankeredtodoherhairpulledlowonherforehead,withpuffsabovetheears,asOlivewaswearinghers.ButAuntWellington’sdictumhadsuchaneffectonherthatsheneverdaredchangeherstyleofhairdressingagain.Butthen,thereweresomanythingsValancyneverdareddo. Allherlifeshehadbeenafraidofsomething,shethoughtbitterly.Fromtheverydawnofrecollection,whenshehadbeensohorriblyafraidofthebigblackbearthatlived,soCousinSticklestoldher,intheclosetunderthestairs. “AndIalwayswillbe—Iknowit—Ican’thelpit.Idon’tknowwhatitwouldbelikenottobeafraidofsomething.” Afraidofhermother’ssulkyfits—afraidofoffendingUncleBenjamin—afraidofbecomingatargetforAuntWellington’scontempt—afraidofAuntIsabel’sbitingcomments—afraidofUncleJames’disapproval—afraidofoffendingthewholeclan’sopinionsandprejudices—afraidofnotkeepingupappearances—afraidtosaywhatshereallythoughtofanything—afraidofpovertyinheroldage.Fear—fear—fear—shecouldneverescapefromit.Itboundherandenmeshedherlikeaspider’swebofsteel.Onlyinh