CHAPTER XIII

ggedher,whenCecilcamenextweek,nottosayanythingqueerbeforehim,atleast.Mother,whatdoyouthinkshesaid?” “I’msureIcan’timagine,”groanedAuntWellington,preparedforanything. “Shesaid,‘I’dratherliketoshockCecil.Hismouthistooredforaman’s.’Mother,IcanneverfeelthesametoValancyagain.” “Hermindisaffected,Olive,”saidAuntWellingtonsolemnly.“Youmustnotholdherresponsibleforwhatshesays.” WhenAuntWellingtontoldMrs.FrederickwhatValancyhadsaidtoOlive,Mrs.FrederickwantedValancytoapologise. “YoumademeapologisetoOlivefifteenyearsagoforsomethingIdidn’tdo,”saidValancy.“Thatoldapologywilldofornow.” Anothersolemnfamilyconclavewasheld.TheywereallthereexceptCousinGladys,whohadbeensufferingsuchtorturesofneuritisinherhead“eversincepoorDosswentqueer”thatshecouldn’tundertakeanyresponsibility.Theydecided—thatis,theyacceptedafactthatwasthrustintheirfaces—thatthewisestthingwastoleaveValancyaloneforawhile—“giveherherhead”asUncleBenjaminexpressedit—“keepacarefuleyeonherbutletherprettymuchalone.”Thetermof“watchfulwaiting”hadnotbeeninventedthen,butthatwaspracticallythepolicyValancy’sdistractedrelativesdecidedtofollow. “Wemustbeguidedbydevelopments,”saidUncleBenjamin.“Itis”—solemnly—“easiertoscrambleeggsthanunscramblethem.Ofcourse—ifshebecomesviolent——” UncleJamesconsultedDr.AmbroseMarsh.Dr.AmbroseMarshapprovedtheirdecision.HepointedouttoirateUncleJames—whowouldhavelikedtolockValancyupsomewhere,outofhand—thatValancyhadnot,asyet,reallydoneorsaidanythingthatcouldbeconstruedasproofoflunacy—andwithoutproofyoucannotlockpeopleupinthisdegenerateage.NothingthatUncleJameshadreportedseemedveryalarmingtoDr.Marsh,whoputuphishandtoconcealasmileseveraltimes.ButthenhehimselfwasnotaStirling.AndheknewverylittleabouttheoldValancy.UncleJamesstalkedoutanddrovebacktoDeerwood,thinkingthatAmbroseMarshwasn’tmuchofadoctor,afterall,andthatAdelaideStirlingmighthavedonebetterforherself.