CHAPTER XIII

UncleBenjaminfoundhehadreckonedwithouthishostwhenhepromisedsoairilytotakeValancytoadoctor.Valancywouldnotgo.Valancylaughedinhisface. “WhyonearthshouldIgotoDr.Marsh?There’snothingthematterwithmymind.ThoughyouallthinkI’vesuddenlygonecrazy.Well,Ihaven’t.I’vesimplygrowntiredoflivingtopleaseotherpeopleandhavedecidedtopleasemyself.Itwillgiveyousomethingtotalkaboutbesidesmystealingtheraspberryjam.Sothat’sthat.” “Doss,”saidUncleBenjamin,solemnlyandhelplessly,“youarenot—likeyourself.” “WhoamIlike,then?”askedValancy. UncleBenjaminwasratherposed. “YourGrandfatherWansbarra,”heanswereddesperately. “Thanks.”Valancylookedpleased.“That’sarealcompliment.IrememberGrandfatherWansbarra.HewasoneofthefewhumanbeingsIhaveknown—almosttheonlyone.Now,itisofnousetoscoldorentreatorcommand,UncleBenjamin—orexchangeanguishedglanceswithMotherandCousinStickles.Iamnotgoingtoanydoctor.AndifyoubringanydoctorhereIwon’tseehim.Sowhatareyougoingtodoaboutit?” Whatindeed!Itwasnotseemly—orevenpossible—tohaleValancydoctorwardsbyphysicalforce.Andinnootherwaycoulditbedone,seemingly.Hermother’stearsandimploringentreatiesavailednot. “Don’tworry,Mother,”saidValancy,lightlybutquiterespectfully.“Itisn’tlikelyI’lldoanythingveryterrible.ButImeantohavealittlefun.” “Fun!”Mrs.FrederickutteredthewordasifValancyhadsaidshewasgoingtohavealittletuberculosis. Olive,sentbyhermothertoseeifshehadanyinfluenceoverValancy,cameawaywithflushedcheeksandangryeyes.ShetoldhermotherthatnothingcouldbedonewithValancy.Aftershe,Olive,hadtalkedtoherjustlikeasister,tenderlyandwisely,allValancyhadsaid,narrowingherfunnyeyestomereslips,was,“Idon’tshowmygumswhenIlaugh.” “Moreasifsheweretalkingtoherselfthantome.Indeed,Mother,allthetimeIwastalkingtohershegavemetheimpressionofnotreallylistening.Andthatwasn’tall.WhenIfinallydecidedthatwhatIwassayinghadnoinfluenceoverherIbe