CHAPTER III
關燈
小
中
大
insunnycornersorondampbrooklands,whatdreamsandmythsandlegendsofanoldertimehauntthem.Thentheimmortalheartofthewoodswillbeatagainstoursanditssubtlelifewillstealintoourveinsandmakeusitsownforever,sothatnomatterwherewegoorhowwidelywewanderweshallyetbedrawnbacktotheforesttofindourmostenduringkinship.”
“Doss,”calledhermotherfromthehallbelow,“whatareyoudoingallbyyourselfinthatroom?”
ValancydroppedThistleHarvestlikeahotcoalandfleddownstairstoherpatchesbutshefeltthestrangeexhilarationofspiritthatalwayscamemomentarilytoherwhenshedippedintooneofJohnFoster’sbooks.Valancydidnotknowmuchaboutwoods—exceptthehauntedgrovesofoakandpinearoundherBlueCastle.ButshehadalwayssecretlyhankeredafterthemandaFosterbookaboutwoodswasthenextbestthingtothewoodsthemselves.
Atnoonitstoppedraining,butthesundidnotcomeoutuntilthree.ThenValancytimidlysaidshethoughtshewouldgouptown.
“Whatdoyouwanttogouptownfor?”demandedhermother.
“Iwanttogetabookfromthelibrary.”
“Yougotabookfromthelibraryonlylastweek.”
“No,itwasfourweeks.”
“Fourweeks.Nonsense!”
“Reallyitwas,Mother.”
“Youaremistaken.Itcannotpossiblyhavebeenmorethantwoweeks.Idislikecontradiction.AndIdonotseewhatyouwanttogetabookfor,anyhow.Youwastetoomuchtimereading.”
“Ofwhatvalueismytime?”askedValancybitterly.
“Doss!Don’tspeakinthattonetome.”
“Weneedsometea,”saidCousinStickles.“Shemightgoandgetthatifshewantsawalk—thoughthisdampweatherisbadforcolds.”
TheyarguedthematterfortenminuteslongerandfinallyMrs.FrederickagreedrathergrudginglythatValancymightgo.
