CHAPTER XIV

whosemindwascentredonthisaspectofthecase.ShedidnotcarewhetherRoaringAbelhadanyonetocookforhimornot.ButherheartwaswrungforCeciliaGay. “Oh,shegitson.BarneySnaithalwaysdropsinwhenhe’spassinganddoesanythingshewantsdone.Bringsherorangesandflowersandthings.There’saChristianforyou.Yetthatsanctimonious,snivellingparcelofSt.Andrew’speoplewouldn’tbeseenonthesamesideoftheroadwithhim.Theirdogs’llgotoheavenbeforetheydo.Andtheirminister—slickasifthecathadlickedhim!” “Thereareplentyofgoodpeople,bothinSt.Andrew’sandSt.George’s,whowouldbekindtoCissyifyouwouldbehaveyourself,”saidValancyseverely.“They’reafraidtogonearyourplace.” “BecauseI’msuchasadolddog?ButIdon’tbite—neverbitanyoneinmylife.Afewloosewordsspilledarounddon’thurtanyone.AndI’mnotaskingpeopletocome.Don’twant’empokingandpryingabout.WhatIwantisahousekeeper.IfIshavedeverySundayandwenttochurchI’dgetallthehousekeepersI’dwant.I’dberespectablethen.Butwhat’stheuseofgoingtochurchwhenit’sallsettledbypredestination?Tellmethat,Miss.” “Isit?”saidValancy. “Yes.Can’tgitarounditnohow.WishIcould.Idon’twanteitherheavenorhellforsteady.Wishamancouldhave’emmixedinequalproportions.” “Isn’tthatthewayitisinthisworld?”said.Valancythoughtfully—butratherasifherthoughtwasconcernedwithsomethingelsethantheology. “No,no,”boomedAbel,strikingatremendousblowonastubbornnail.“There’stoomuchhellhere—entirelytoomuchhell.That’swhyIgetdrunksooften.Itsetsyoufreeforalittlewhile—freefromyourself—yes,byGod,freefrompredestination.Evertryit?” “No,I’veanotherwayofgettingfree,”saidValancyabsently.“ButaboutCissynow.Shemusthavesomeonetolookafterher——” “WhatareyouharpingonSisfor?Seemstomeyouain’tbotheredmuchaboutheruptonow.Youneverevencometoseeher.Andsheusedtolikeyousowell.” “Ishouldhave,”saidValancy.“Butnevermind.Youcouldn’tunderstand.Thepointis—youmusthaveahousekeeper.” “WhereamItogetone?IcanpaydecentwagesifIcouldgetadecentwoman.D’yethinkIlikeoldhags?” “WillIdo?”saidValancy.