CHAPTER X

utablereasonAuntAlbertahadseenfittotieablackvelvetribbonaroundeachofherchubbyarmsabovetheelbow. ThenshelookedacrossthetableatOlive.Olive,whohadbeenhelduptoherasaparagonofbeauty,behaviourandsuccessaslongasshecouldremember.“Whycan’tyouholdyourselflikeOlive,Doss?Whycan’tyoustandcorrectlylikeOlive,Doss?Whycan’tyouspeakprettilylikeOlive,Doss?Whycan’tyoumakeaneffort,Doss?” Valancy’selfineyeslosttheirmockingglitterandbecamepensiveandsorrowful.YoucouldnotignoreordisdainOlive.Itwasquiteimpossibletodenythatshewasbeautifulandeffectiveandsometimesshewasalittleintelligent.Hermouthmightbeatrifleheavy—shemightshowherfine,white,regularteethrathertoolavishlywhenshesmiled.Butwhenallwassaidanddone,OlivejustifiedUncleBenjamin’ssummingup—“astunninggirl.”Yes,Valancyagreedinherheart,Olivewasstunning. Rich,golden-brownhair,elaboratelydressed,withasparklingbandeauholdingitsglossypuffsinplacelarge,brilliantblueeyesandthicksilkenlashesfaceofroseandbareneckofsnow,risingabovehergowngreatpearlbubblesinherearstheblue-whitediamondflameonherlong,smooth,waxenfingerwithitsrosy,pointednail.Armsofmarble,gleamingthroughgreenchiffonandshadowlace.Valancyfeltsuddenlythankfulthatherownscrawnyarmsweredecentlyswathedinbrownsilk.ThensheresumedhertabulationofOlive’scharms. Tall.Queenly.Confident.EverythingthatValancywasnot.Dimples,too,incheeksandchin.“Awomanwithdimplesalwaysgetsherownway,”thoughtValancy,inarecurringspasmofbitternessatthefatewhichhaddeniedherevenonedimple. OlivewasonlyayearyoungerthanValancy,thoughastrangerwouldhavethoughtthattherewasatleasttenyearsbetweenthem.Butnobodyeverdreadedoldmaidenhoodforher.Olivehadbeensurroundedbyacrowdofeagerbeaussinceherearlyteens,justashermirrorwasalwayssurroundedbyafringeofcards,photographs,programmesandinvitations.Ateighteen,whenshehadgraduatedfromHaver