CHAPTER II
關燈
小
中
大
erBlueCastlecouldshefindtemporaryrelease.AndthismorningValancycouldnotbelieveshehadaBlueCastle.Shewouldneverbeabletofinditagain.Twenty-nine,unmarried,undesired—whathadshetodowiththefairy-likechatelaineoftheBlueCastle?Shewouldcutsuchchildishnonsenseoutofherlifeforeverandfacerealityunflinchingly.
Sheturnedfromherunfriendlymirrorandlookedout.Theuglinessoftheviewalwaysstruckherlikeablowtheraggedfence,thetumble-downoldcarriage-shopinthenextlot,plasteredwithcrude,violentlycolouredadvertisementsthegrimyrailwaystationbeyond,withtheawfulderelictsthatwerealwayshangingarounditevenatthisearlyhour.Inthepouringraineverythinglookedworsethanusual,especiallythebeastlyadvertisement,“Keepthatschoolgirlcomplexion.”Valancyhadkeptherschoolgirlcomplexion.Thatwasjustthetrouble.Therewasnotagleamofbeautyanywhere—“exactlylikemylife,”thoughtValancydrearily.Herbriefbitternesshadpassed.Sheacceptedfactsasresignedlyasshehadalwaysacceptedthem.Shewasoneofthepeoplewhomlifealwayspassesby.Therewasnoalteringthatfact.
InthismoodValancywentdowntobreakfast.
