CHAPTER XVII

herwasthatshedidnotsingatherwork. “Folksshouldalwayssingattheirwork,”heinsisted.“Soundscheerful-like.” “Notalways,”retortedValancy.“Fancyabutchersingingathiswork.Oranundertaker.” Abelburstintohisgreatbroadlaugh. “There’snogettingthebetterofyou.You’vegotananswereverytime.IshouldthinktheStirlingswouldbegladtoberidofyou.Theydon’tlikebeingsassedback.” DuringthedayAbelwasgenerallyawayfromhome—ifnotworking,thenshootingorfishingwithBarneySnaith.Hegenerallycamehomeatnights—alwaysverylateandoftenverydrunk.Thefirstnighttheyheardhimcomehowlingintotheyard,CissyhadtoldValancynottobeafraid. “Fatherneverdoesanything—hejustmakesanoise.” Valancy,lyingonthesofainCissy’sroom,whereshehadelectedtosleep,lestCissyshouldneedattentioninthenight—Cissywouldneverhavecalledher—wasnotatallafraid,andsaidso.BythetimeAbelhadgothishorsesputaway,theroaringstagehadpassedandhewasinhisroomattheendofthehallcryingandpraying.Valancycouldstillhearhisdismalmoanswhenshewentcalmlytosleep.Forthemostpart,Abelwasagood-naturedcreature,butoccasionallyhehadatemper.OnceValancyaskedhimcoolly: “Whatistheuseofgettinginarage?” “It’ssuchad——drelief,”saidAbel. Theybothburstoutlaughingtogether. “You’reagreatlittlesport,”saidAbeladmiringly.“Don’tmindmybadFrench.Idon’tmeanathingbyit.Jesthabit.Say,Ilikeawomanthatain’tafraidtospeakuptome.Sistherewasalwaystoomeek—toomeek.That’swhyshegotadrift.Ilikeyou.” “Allthesame,”saidValancydeterminedly,“thereisnouseinsendingthingstohellasyou’realwaysdoing.AndI’mnotgoingtohaveyoutrackingmudalloverafloorI’vejustscrubbed.Youmustusethescraperwhetheryouconsignittoperditionornot.” Cissylovedthecleannessandneatness.Shehadkeptitso,too,untilherstrengthfailed.ShewasverypitifullyhappybecauseshehadValancywithher.Ithadbeensoterrible—thelong,lonelydaysandnigh