CHAPTER IX
關燈
小
中
大
tshehadthoughtitnecessarytoconsiderValancy’shumours.ButthenValancyhadneverbeen“queer”before.
OntheirwaytoUncleHerbert’s—Mrs.FrederickandCousinStickleswalkinginfront,Valancytrottingmeeklyalongbehind—RoaringAbeldrovepastthem.Drunkasusualbutnotintheroaringstage.Justdrunkenoughtobeexcessivelypolite.Heraisedhisdisreputableoldtartancapwiththeairofamonarchsalutinghissubjectsandsweptthemagrandbow.Mrs.FrederickandCousinSticklesdarednotcutRoaringAbelaltogether.HewastheonlypersoninDeerwoodwhocouldbegottodooddjobsofcarpenteringandrepairingwhentheyneededtobedone,soitwouldnotdotooffendhim.Buttheyrespondedwithonlythestiffest,slightestofbows.RoaringAbelmustbekeptinhisplace.
Valancy,behindthem,didathingtheywerefortunatelysparedseeing.ShesmiledgailyandwavedherhandtoRoaringAbel.Whynot?Shehadalwayslikedtheoldsinner.Hewassuchajolly,picturesque,unashamedreprobateandstoodoutagainstthedrabrespectabilityofDeerwoodanditscustomslikeaflame-redflagofrevoltandprotest.OnlyafewnightsagoAbelhadgonethroughDeerwoodintheweesma’s,shoutingoathsatthetopofhisstentorianvoicewhichcouldbeheardformiles,andlashinghishorseintoafuriousgallopashetorealongprim,properElmStreet.
“Yellingandblaspheminglikeafiend,”shudderedCousinSticklesatthebreakfast-table.
“IcannotunderstandwhythejudgmentoftheLordhasnotfallenuponthatmanlongerethis,”saidMrs.Frederickpetulan
