CHAPTER XVII

r:“Itisapitytogatherwood-flowers.Theylosehalftheirwitcheryawayfromthegreenandtheflicker.Thewaytoenjoywood-flowersistotrackthemdowntotheirremotehaunts—gloatoverthem—andthenleavethemwithbackwardglances,takingwithusonlythebeguilingmemoryoftheirgraceandfragrance.” Valancywasinthemidstofrealitiesafteralifetimeofunrealities.Andbusy—verybusy.Thehousehadtobecleaned.NotfornothinghadValancybeenbroughtupintheStirlinghabitsofneatnessandcleanliness.Ifshefoundsatisfactionincleaningdirtyroomsshegotherfillofitthere.RoaringAbelthoughtshewasfoolishtobotherdoingsomuchmorethanshewasaskedtodo,buthedidnotinterferewithher.Hewasverywellsatisfiedwithhisbargain.Valancywasagoodcook.Abelsaidshegotaflavourintothings.Theonlyfaulthefoundwithherwasthatshedidnotsingatherwork. “Folksshouldalwayssingattheirwork,”heinsisted.“Soundscheerful-like.” “Notalways,”retortedValancy.“Fancyabutchersingingathiswork.Oranundertaker.” Abelburstintohisgreatbroadlaugh. “There’snogettingthebetterofyou.You’vegotananswereverytime.IshouldthinktheStirlingswouldbegladtoberidofyou.Theydon’tlikebeingsassedb