CHAPTER VI

nthestairs.Valancyroseandwenttotheofficedoor. “Thedoctorforgotallaboutme,”shesaidwithatwistedsmile. “Well,that’stoobad,”saidMrs.Pattersonsympathetically.“Butitwasn’tmuchwonder,poorman.Thatwasatelegramthey’phonedoverfromthePort.HissonhasbeenterriblyinjuredinanautoaccidentinMontreal.Thedoctorhadjusttenminutestocatchthetrain.Idon’tknowwhathe’lldoifanythinghappenstoNed—he’sjustboundupintheboy.You’llhavetocomeagain,MissStirling.Ihopeit’snothingserious.” “Oh,no,nothingserious,”agreedValancy.Shefeltalittlelesshumiliated.ItwasnowonderpoorDr.Trenthadforgottenheratsuchamoment.Nevertheless,shefeltveryflatanddiscouragedasshewentdownthestreet. Valancywenthomebytheshort-cutofLover’sLane.ShedidnotoftengothroughLover’sLane—butitwasgettingnearsupper-timeanditwouldneverdotobelate.Lover’sLanewoundbackofthevillage,undergreatelmsandmaples,anddeserveditsname.Itwashardtogothereatanytimeandnotfindsomecanoodlingcouple—oryounggirlsinpairs,armsintertwined,earnestlytalkingovertheirlittlesecrets.Valancydidn’tknowwhichmadeherfeelmoreself-consciousanduncomfortable. Thiseveningsheencounteredboth.ShemetConnieHaleandKateBayley,innewpinkorgandydresseswithflowersstuckcoquettishlyintheirglossy,barehair.Valancyhadneverhadapinkdressorwornflowersinherhair.Thenshepassedayoungcoupleshedidn’tknow,danderingalong,oblivioustoeverythingbutthemselves.Theyoungman’sarmwasaroundthegirl’swaistquiteshamelessly.Valancyhadneverwalkedwithaman’sarmabouther.Shefeltthatsheoughttobeshocked—theymightleavethatsortofthingforthescreeningtwilight,atleast—butshewasn’tshocked.Inanotherfl