CHAPTER V

edtoher?Hadsheactuallyturnedintoaboy?ShecametoastopinfrontofDr.Stalling.Dr.Stallingshookhisforefinger—suchalong,knucklyforefinger—atherandsaid: “Littleboy,takeoffyourhat.” Valancytookoffherhat.Shehadascrawnylittlepigtailhangingdownherback,butDr.Stallingwasshort-sightedanddidnotperceiveit. “Littleboy,gobacktoyourseatandalwaystakeoffyourhatinchurch.Remember!” Valancywentbacktoherseatcarryingherhatlikeanautomaton.Presentlyhermothercamein. “Doss,”saidMrs.Stirling,“whatdoyoumeanbytakingoffyourhat?Putitoninstantly!” Valancyputitoninstantly.ShewascoldwithfearlestDr.Stallingshouldimmediatelysummonherupfrontagain.Shewouldhavetogo,ofcourse—itneveroccurredtoherthatonecoulddisobeytherector—andthechurchwasfullofpeoplenow.Oh,whatwouldshedoifthathorrible,stabbingforefingerwereshakenatheragainbeforeallthosepeople?Valancysatthroughthewholeserviceinanagonyofdreadandwassickforaweekafterwards.Nobodyknewwhy—Mrs.Frederickagainbemoanedherselfofherdelicatechild. Dr.StallingfoundouthismistakeandlaughedoverittoValancy—whodidnotlaugh.ShenevergotoverherdreadofDr.Stalling.Andnowtobecaughtbyhimonthestreetcorner,thinkingsuchthings! ValancygotherJohnFosterbook—MagicofWings.“Hislatest—allaboutbirds,”saidMissClarkson.Shehadalmostdecidedthatshew