CHAPTER VIII

henightshehadspentinPortLawrencewithAuntIsabelwhenshewasten.ByronStirlingwastherefromMontreal,twelveyearsold,conceited,clever.AtfamilyprayersinthemorningByronhadreachedacrossandgivenValancy’sthinarmsuchasavagepinchthatshescreamedoutwithpain.AfterprayerswereovershewassummonedtoAuntIsabel’sbarofjudgment.ButwhenshesaidByronhadpinchedherByrondeniedit.Hesaidshecriedoutbecausethekittenscratchedher.HesaidshehadputthekittenuponherchairandwasplayingwithitwhensheshouldhavebeenlisteningtoUncleDavid’sprayer.Hewasbelieved.IntheStirlingclantheboyswerealwaysbelievedbeforethegirls.ValancywassenthomeindisgracebecauseofherexceedinglybadbehaviorduringfamilyprayersandshewasnotaskedtoAuntIsabel’sagainformanymoons. ThetimeCousinBettyStirlingwasmarried.SomehowValancygotwindofthefactthatBettywasgoingtoaskhertobeoneofherbridesmaids.Valancywassecretlyuplifted.Itwouldbeadelightfulthingtobeabridesmaid.Andofcourseshewouldhavetohaveanewdressforit—aprettynewdress—apinkdress.Bettywantedherbridesmaidstodressinpink. ButBettyhadneveraskedher,afterall.Valancycouldn’tguesswhy,butlongafterhersecrettearsofdisappointmenthadbeendriedOlivetoldher.Betty,aftermuchconsultationandreflection,haddecidedthatValancywastooinsignificant—shewould“spoiltheeffect.”Thatwasnineyearsago.ButtonightValancycaughtherbreathwiththeoldpainandstingofit. Thatdayinhereleventhyearwhenhermotherhadbadgeredherintoconfessingsomethingshehadneverdone.Valancyhaddenieditforalongtimebuteventuallyforpeace’sakeshehadgiveninandpleadedguilty.Mrs.Frederickwasalwaysmakingpeopleliebypushingthemintosituationswheretheyhadtolie.Thenhermotherhadmadeherkneeldownontheparlourfloor,betweenherselfandCousinStickles,andsay,“OGod,pleaseforgivemefornotspeakingthetruth.”Valancyhadsaidit,butassherosefromherkneesshemuttered.“But,OGod,youknowIdidspeakthetruth.”ValancyhadnotthenheardofGalileobutherfatewassimilartohis.Shewaspunishedjustasseverelyasifshehadn’tconfessedandprayed. Thewintershewenttodancing-school.UncleJameshaddecreedsheshouldgoandhadpaidforherlessons.Howshehadlookedforwardtoit!Andhowshehadhatedit!Shehadneverhadavoluntarypartner.Theteacheralwayshadtotellsomeboytodancewithher,andgenerallyhehadbeensulkyaboutit.YetValancywasagooddancer,aslightonherfeetasthistledown.Olive,whoneverlackedeagerpartners,washeavy. Theaffairofthebutton-string,whenshewasten.Allthegirlsinschoolhadbutton-strings.Olivehadaverylongonewithagreatmanybeautifulbuttons.Valancyhadone.Mostofthebuttonsonitwereverycommonplace,butshehadsixbeautiesthathadcomeoffGrandmotherStirling’swedding-gown—sparklingbuttonsofgoldandglass,muchmorebeautifulthananyOlivehad.TheirpossessionconferredacertaindistinctiononValancy.Shekneweverylittlegirlinschoolenviedhertheexclusivepossessionofthosebeautifulbuttons.WhenOlivesawthemonthebutton-stringshehadlookedatthemnarrowlybutsaidnot