CHAPTER VI

’t.She,ValancyStirling,respectable,well-behavedtothelastdegree,wasunhappyandhadalwaysbeenunhappy.Sothereyouwere. Valancywasjustintimeforsupper.Thesunhadcloudedover,andadismal,drizzlingrainwasfallingagain.CousinStickleshadtheneuralgia.ValancyhadtodothefamilydarningandtherewasnotimeforMagicofWings. “Can’tthedarningwaittilltomorrow?”shepleaded. “Tomorrowwillbringitsownduties,”saidMrs.Frederickinexorably. ValancydarnedalltheeveningandlistenedtoMrs.FrederickandCousinSticklestalkingtheeternal,nigglinggossipoftheclan,astheyknitteddrearilyatinterminableblackstockings.TheydiscussedSecondCousinLilian’sapproachingweddinginallitsbearings.Onthewhole,theyapproved.SecondCousinLilianwasdoingwellforherself. “Thoughshehasn’thurried,”saidCousinStickles.“Shemustbetwenty-five.” “Therehavenot—fortunately—beenmanyoldmaidsinourconnection,”saidMrs.Frederickbitterly. Valancyflinched.Shehadrunthedarningneedleintoherfinger. ThirdCousinAaronGrayhadbeenscratchedbyacatandhadblood-poisoninginhisfinger.“Catsaremostdangerousanimals,”saidMrs.Frederick.“Iwouldneverhaveacataboutthehouse.” SheglaredsignificantlyatValancythroughherterribleglasses.Once,fiveyearsago,Valancyhadaskedifshemighthaveacat.Shehadneverreferredtoitsince,butMrs.Frederickstillsuspectedherofharbouringtheunlawfuldesireinherheartofhearts. OnceValancysneezed.Now,intheStirlingcode,itwasverybadformtosneezeinpublic. “Youcanalwaysrepressasneezebypressingyourfingeronyourupperlip,”saidMrs.Frederickrebukingly. Half-pastnineo’clockandso,asMr.Pepyswouldsay,tobed.ButFirstCousinStickles’neuralgicbackmustberubbedwithRedfern’sLiniment.Valancydidthat.Valancyalwayshadtodoit.ShehatedthesmellofRedfern’sLiniment—shehatedthesmug,beaming,portly,be-whiskered,be-spectacledpictureofDr.Redfernonthebottle.Herfingerssmelledofthehorriblestuffaftershegotintobed,inspiteofallthescrubbingshegavethem. Valancy’sdayofdestinyhadcomeandgone.Sheendeditasshehadbegunit,intears.