CHAPTER III

Valancy’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,”saidMrs.Frederick.“Twenty-nine!IhadbeenmarriednineyearswhenIwastwenty-nine.” “Iwasmarriedatseventeen,”saidCousinSticklesproudly. Valancylookedatthemfurtively.Mrs.Frederick,exceptforthoseterribleglassesandthehookednosethatmadeherlookmorelikeaparrotthanaparrotitselfcouldlook,wasnotill-looking.Attwentyshemighthavebeenquitepretty.ButCousinStickles!AndyetChristineStickleshadoncebeendesirableinsomeman’seyes.ValancyfeltthatCousinStickles,withherbroad,flat,wrinkledface,amolerightontheendofherdumpynose,bristlinghairsonherchin,wrinkledyellowneck,pale,protrudingeyes,andthin,puckeredmouth,hadyetthisadvantageoverher—thisrighttolookdownonher.AndevenyetCousinStickleswasnecessarytoMrs.Frederick.Valancywonderedpitifullywhatitwouldbeliketobewantedbysomeone—n