CHAPTER V

ouldgohome,insteadofgoingtoseeDr.Trent.Hercouragehadfailedher.ShewasafraidofoffendingUncleJames—afraidofangeringhermother—afraidoffacinggruff,shaggy-browedoldDr.Trent,whowouldprobablytellher,ashehadtoldCousinGladys,thathertroublewasentirelyimaginaryandthatsheonlyhaditbecauseshelikedtohaveit.No,shewouldnotgoshewouldgetabottleofRedfern’sPurplePillsinstead.Redfern’sPurplePillswerethestandardmedicineoftheStirlingclan.HadtheynotcuredSecondCousinGeraldinewhenfivedoctorshadgivenherup?ValancyalwaysfeltveryscepticalconcerningthevirtuesofthePurplePillsbuttheremightbesomethinginthemanditwaseasiertotakethemthantofaceDr.Trentalone.Shewouldglanceoverthemagazinesinthereading-roomafewminutesandthengohome. Valancytriedtoreadastory,butitmadeherfurious.Oneverypagewasapictureoftheheroinesurroundedbyadoringmen.Andherewasshe,ValancyStirling,whocouldnotgetasolitarybeau!ValancyslammedthemagazineshutsheopenedMagicofWings.Hereyesfellontheparagraphthatchangedherlife. “Fearistheoriginalsin,”wroteJohnFoster.“Almostalltheevilintheworldhasitsorigininthefactthatsomeoneisafraidofsomething.Itisacold,slimyserpentcoilingaboutyou.Itishorribletolivewithfearanditisofallthingsdegrading.” ValancyshutMagicofWingsandstoodup.ShewouldgoandseeDr.Trent.