CHAPTER XV

“Letusbecalm,”saidUncleBenjamin.“Letusbeperfectlycalm.” “Calm!”Mrs.Frederickwrungherhands.“HowcanIbecalm—howcouldanybodybecalmundersuchadisgraceasthis?” “Whyintheworlddidyoulethergo?”askedUncleJames. “Lether!HowcouldIstopher,James?ItseemsshepackedthebigvaliseandsentitawaywithRoaringAbelwhenhewenthomeaftersupper,whileChristineandIwereoutinthekitchen.ThenDossherselfcamedownwithherlittlesatchel,dressedinhergreensergesuit.Ifeltaterriblepremonition.Ican’ttellyouhowitwas,butIseemedtoknowthatDosswasgoingtodosomethingdreadful.” “It’sapityyoucouldn’thavehadyourpremonitionalittlesooner,”saidUncleBenjamindrily. “Isaid,‘Doss,whereareyougoing?’andshesaid,‘IamgoingtolookformyBlueCastle.’” “Wouldn’tyouthinkthatwouldconvinceMarshthathermindisaffected?”interjectedUncleJames. “AndIsaid,‘Valancy,whatdoyoumean?’Andshesaid,‘IamgoingtokeephouseforRoaringAbelandnurseCissy.Hewillpaymethirtydollarsamonth.’IwonderIdidn’tdropdeadonthespot.” “Youshouldn’thavelethergo—youshouldn’thaveletheroutofthehouse,”saidUncleJames.“Youshouldhavelockedthedoor—anything——” “Shewasbetweenmeandthefrontdoor.Andyoucan’trealisehowdeterminedshewas.Shewaslikearock.That’sthestrangestthingofallabouther.Sheusedtobesogoodandobedient,andnowshe’sneithertoholdnorbind.ButIsaideverythingIcouldthinkoftobringhertohersenses.Iaskedherifshehadnoregardforherreputation.Isaidtohersolemnly,‘Doss,whenawoman’sreputationisoncesmirchednothingcanevermakeitspotlessagain.Yourcharacterwillbegoneforeverif