CHAPTER XVIII

ngovertothePort,”Barneywassaying.“CanIacquiremeritbygettingordoinganythingthereforyouorCissy?” “Willyougetsomesaltcodfishforus?”saidValancy.Itwastheonlythingshecouldthinkof.RoaringAbelhadexpressedadesirethatdayforadinnerofboiledsaltcodfish.WhenherknightscameridingtotheBlueCastle,Valancyhadsentthemonmanyaquest,butshehadneveraskedanyofthemtogethersaltcodfish. “Certainly.You’resurethere’snothingelse?LotsofroominLadyJaneGreySlosson.Andshealwaysgetsbacksometime,doesLadyJane.” “Idon’tthinkthere’sanythingmore,”saidValancy.SheknewhewouldbringorangesforCissyanyhow—healwaysdid. Barneydidnotturnawayatonce.Hewassilentforalittle.Thenhesaid,slowlyandwhimsically: “MissStirling,you’reabrick!You’reawholecartloadofbricks.TocomehereandlookafterCissy—underthecircumstances.” “There’snothingsobrickyaboutthat,”saidValancy.“I’dnothingelsetodo.And—Ilikeithere.Idon’tfeelasifI’ddoneanythingspeciallymeritorious.Mr.Gayispayingmefairwages.Ineverearnedanymoneybefore—andIlikeit.”ItseemedsoeasytotalktoBarneySnaith,someway—thisterribleBarneySnaithoftheluridtalesandmysteriouspast—aseasyandnaturalasiftalkingtoherself. “Allthemoneyintheworldcouldn’tbuywhatyou’redoingforCissyGay,”saidBarney.“It’ssplendidandfineofyou.Andifthere’sanythingIcandotohelpyouinanyway,youhaveonlytoletmeknow.IfRoaringAbelevertriestoannoyyou——” “Hedoesn’t.He’slovelytome.IlikeRoaringAbel,”saidValancyfrankly. “SodoI.Butthere’sonestageofhisdrunkenness—perhapsyouhaven’tencounteredityet—whenhesingsribaldsongs——” “Oh,yes.Hecamehomelastnightlikethat.CissyandIjustwenttoourroomandshutourselvesinwherewecouldn’thearhim.Heapologisedthismorning.I’mnotafraidofanyofRoaringAbel’sstages.” “Well,I’msurehe’llbedecenttoyou,apartfromhisinebriatedyowls,”saidBarney.“An