CHAPTER XVII

isnouseinsendingthingstohellasyou’realwaysdoing.AndI’mnotgoingtohaveyoutrackingmudalloverafloorI’vejustscrubbed.Youmustusethescraperwhetheryouconsignittoperditionornot.” Cissylovedthecleannessandneatness.Shehadkeptitso,too,untilherstrengthfailed.ShewasverypitifullyhappybecauseshehadValancywithher.Ithadbeensoterrible—thelong,lonelydaysandnightswithnocompanionshipsavethosedreadfuloldwomenwhocametowork.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.Andthosedropsyout