CHAPTER VII

TherewasarosebushonthelittleStirlinglawn,growingbesidethegate.Itwascalled“Doss’srosebush.”CousinGeorgianahadgivenittoValancyfiveyearsagoandValancyhadplanteditjoyfully.Shelovedroses.But—ofcourse—therosebushneverbloomed.Thatwasherluck.Valancydideverythingshecouldthinkofandtooktheadviceofeverybodyintheclan,butstilltherosebushwouldnotbloom.Itthroveandgrewluxuriantly,withgreatleafybranchesuntouchedofrustorspiderbutnotevenabudhadeverappearedonit.Valancy,lookingatittwodaysafterherbirthday,wasfilledwithasudden,overwhelminghatredforit.Thethingwouldn’tbloom:verywell,then,shewouldcutitdown.Shemarchedtothetool-roominthebarnforhergardenknifeandshewentattherosebushviciously.AfewminuteslaterhorrifiedMrs.Frederickcameouttotheverandahandbeheldherdaughterslashinginsanelyamongtherosebushboughs.Halfofthemwerealreadystrewnonthewalk.Thebushlookedsadlydismantled. “Doss,whatonearthareyoudoing?Haveyougonecrazy?” “No,”saidValancy.Shemeanttosayitdefiantly,buthabitwastoostrongforher.Shesaiditdeprecatingly.“I—Ijustmadeupmymindtocutthisbushdown.Itisnogood.Itneverblooms—neverwillbloom.” “Thatisnoreasonfordestroyingit,”saidMrs.Fredericksternly.“Itwasabeautifulbushandquiteornamental.Youhavemadeasorry-lookingthingofit.” “Rosetreesshouldbloom,”saidValancyalittleobstinately. “Don’targuewithme,Doss.Clearupthatmessandleavethebushalone.Idon’tknowwhatGeorgianawillsaywhensheseeshowyouhavehackedittopieces.Really,I’msurprisedatyou.Andtodoitwithoutconsultingme!” “Thebushismine,”mutteredValancy. “What’sthat?Whatdidyousay,Doss?” “Ionlysaidthebushwasmine,”repeatedValancyhumbly. Mrs.Frederickturnedwithoutawordandmarchedbackintothehouse.Themischiefwasdonenow.Valancyknewshehadoffendedhermotherdeeplyandwouldnotbespokentoornoticedinanywayfortwoorthreedays.CousinStickleswouldseetoValancy’sbringing-upbutMrs.Frederickwouldpreservethestonysilenceofoutragedmajesty. Valancysighedandputawayhergardenknife,hangingitpreciselyoni