CHAPTER XIII

it—“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.