CHAPTER IX

Iwillnotgo.” Thiswasevenworse.Mrs.Frederickhadrecoursetotears,havingfoundoutragedmajestyhadceasedtobeeffective. “WhathaveyougotagainsttheAnglicanchurch?”shesobbed. “Nothing—onlyjustthatyou’vealwaysmademegothere.Ifyou’dmademegotothePresbyterianchurchI’dwanttogototheAnglican.” “Isthatanicethingtosaytoyourmother?Oh,howtrueitisthatitissharperthanaserpent’stoothtohaveathanklesschild.” “Isthatanicethingtosaytoyourdaughter?”saidunrepentantValancy. SoValancy’sbehaviouratthesilverweddingwasnotquitethesurprisetoMrs.FrederickandChristineSticklesthatitwastotherest.Theyweredoubtfulaboutthewisdomoftakingher,butconcludeditwould“maketalk”iftheydidn’t.Perhapsshewouldbehaveherself,andsofarnooutsidersuspectedtherewasanythingqueerabouther.ByaspecialmercyofProvidenceithadpouredtorrentsSundaymorning,soValancyhadnotcarriedoutherhideousthreatofgoingtothePresbyterianchurch. Valancywouldnothavecaredintheleastiftheyhadleftherathome.Thesefamilycelebrationswereallhopelesslydull.ButtheStirlingsalwayscelebratedeverything.Itwasalong-establishedcustom.EvenMrs.FrederickgaveadinnerpartyonherweddinganniversaryandCousinStickleshadfriendsintosupperonherbirthday.Valancyhatedtheseentertainmentsbecausetheyhadtopinchandsaveandcontriveforweeksafterwardstopayforthem.Butshewantedtogotothesilverwedding.ItwouldhurtUncleHerbert’sfeelingsifshestayedaway,andsheratherlikedUncleHerbert.Besides,shewantedtolookoverallherrelativesfromhernewangle.Itwouldbeanexcellentplacetomakepublicherdeclarationofindependenceifoccasionoffered. “Putonyourbrownsilkdress,”saidMrs.Stirling. Asiftherewereanythingelsetoputon!Valancyhadonlytheonefestivedress—thatsnuffy-brownsilkAuntIsabelhadgive