CHAPTER III
關燈
小
中
大
ValancytookcoldaftercoldandendedupwithbronchitisinJune.
“Noneofmyfamilywereeverlikethat,”saidMrs.Frederick,implyingthatitmustbeaStirlingtendency.
“TheStirlingsseldomtakecolds,”saidCousinSticklesresentfully.ShehadbeenaStirling.
“Ithink,”saidMrs.Frederick,“thatifapersonmakesuphermindnottohavecoldsshewillnothavecolds.”
Sothatwasthetrouble.ItwasallValancy’sownfault.
ButonthisparticularmorningValancy’sunbearablegrievancewasthatshewascalledDoss.Shehadendureditfortwenty-nineyears,andallatonceshefeltshecouldnotendureitanylonger.HerfullnamewasValancyJane.ValancyJanewasratherterrible,butshelikedValancy,withitsodd,out-landtang.ItwasalwaysawondertoValancythattheStirlingshadallowedhertobesochristened.Shehadbeentoldthathermaternalgrandfather,oldAmosWansbarra,hadchosenthenameforher.HerfatherhadtackedontheJanebywayofcivilisingit,andthewholeconnectiongotoutofthedifficultybynicknamingherDoss.ShenevergotValancyfromanyonebutoutsiders.
“Mother,”shesaidtimidly,“wouldyoumindcallingmeValancyafterthis?Dossseemsso—so—Idon’tlikeit.”
Mrs.Fredericklookedatherdaughterinastonishment.Sheworeglasseswithenormouslystronglensesthatgavehereyesapeculiarlydisagreeableappearance.
“WhatisthematterwithDoss?”
“It—seemssochildish,”falteredValancy.
“Oh!”Mrs.FrederickhadbeenaWansbarraandtheWansbarrasmilewasnotanasset.“Isee.Well,itshouldsuityouthen.Youarechildishenoughinallconscience,mydearchild.”
“Iamtwenty-nine,”saidthedearchilddesperately.
“Iwouldn’tproclaimitfromthehouse-topsifIwereyou,dear
