CHAPTER XVII

tswithnocompanionshipsavethosedreadfuloldwomenwhocametowork.Cissyhadhatedandfearedthem.SheclungtoValancylikeachild. TherewasnodoubtthatCissywasdying.Yetatnotimedidsheseemalarminglyill.Shedidnotevencoughagreatdeal.Mostdaysshewasabletogetupanddress—sometimeseventoworkaboutinthegardenorthebarrensforanhourortwo.ForafewweeksafterValancy’scomingsheseemedsomuchbetterthatValancybegantohopeshemightgetwell.ButCissyshookherhead. “No,Ican’tgetwell.Mylungsarealmostgone.AndI—don’twantto.I’msotired,Valancy.Onlydyingcanrestme.Butit’slovelytohaveyouhere—you’llneverknowhowmuchitmeanstome.ButValancy—youworktoohard.Youdon’tneedto—Fatheronlywantshismealscooked.Idon’tthinkyouarestrongyourself.Youturnsopalesometimes.Andthosedropsyoutake.Areyouwell,dear?” “I’mallright,”saidValancylightly.ShewouldnothaveCissyworried.“AndI’mnotworkinghard.I’mgladtohavesomeworktodo—somethingthatreallywantstobedone.” “Then”—CissyslippedherhandwistfullyintoValancy’s—“don’tlet’stalkanymoreaboutmybeingsick.Let’sjustforgetit.Let’spretendI’malittlegirlagain—andyouhavecomeheretoplaywithme.Iusedtowishthatlongago—wishthatyoucouldcome.Iknewyoucouldn’t,ofcourse.ButhowIdidwishit!Youalwaysseemedsodifferentfromtheothergirls—sokindandsweet—andasifyouhadsomethinginyourselfnobodyknewabout—somedear,prettysecret.Hadyou,Valancy?” “IhadmyBlueCastle,”saidValancy,laughingalittle.ShewaspleasedthatCissyhadthoughtofherlikethis.Shehadneversuspectedthatanybodylikedoradmiredorwonderedabouther.ShetoldCissyallaboutherBlueCastle.Shehadnevertoldanyoneaboutitbefore. “EveryonehasaBlueCastle,Ithink,”saidCissysoftly.“Onlyeveryonehasadifferentnameforit.Ihadmine—once.” Sheputhertwothinlittlehandsoverherface.ShedidnottellValancy—then—whohaddestroyedherBlueCastle.ButValancyknewthat,whoeveritwas,itwasnotBarneySnaith.