CHAPTER III

,”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—neededbysomeone.Nooneinthewholeworldneededher,orwouldmissanythingfromlifeifshedroppedsuddenlyoutofit.Shewasadisappointmenttohermother.Noonelovedher.Shehadneversomuchashadagirlfriend. “Ihaven’tevenagiftforfriendship,”shehadonceadmittedtoherselfpitifully. “Doss,youhaven’teatenyourcrusts,”saidMrs.Frederickrebukingly. Itrainedalltheforenoonwithoutcessation.Valancypiecedaquilt.Valancyhatedpiecingquilts.Andtherewasnoneedofit.Thehousewasfullofquilts.Therewerethreebigchests,packedwithquilts,intheattic.Mrs.FrederickhadbegunstoringawayquiltswhenValancywasseventeenandshekeptonstoringthem,thoughitdidnotseemlikelythatValancywouldeverneedthem.ButValancymustbeatworkandfancyworkmaterialsweretooexpensive.IdlenesswasacardinalsinintheStirlinghousehold.WhenValancyhadbeenac