CHAPTER XVIII

dI’vetoldhimhe’sgottostopdamningthingswhenyou’rearound.” “Why?”askedValancyslily,withoneofherodd,slantedglancesandasuddenflakeofpinkoneachcheek,bornofthethoughtthatBarneySnaithhadactuallydonesomuchforher.“Ioftenfeellikedamningthingsmyself.” ForamomentBarneystared.Wasthiselfingirlthelittle,old-maidishcreaturewhohadstoodtheretwominutesago?Surelytherewasmagicanddevilrygoingoninthatshabby,weedyoldgarden. Thenhelaughed. “Itwillbearelieftohavesomeonetodoitforyou,then.Soyoudon’twantanythingbutsaltcodfish?” “Nottonight.ButIdaresayI’llhavesomeerrandsforyouveryoftenwhenyougotoPortLawrence.Ican’ttrustMr.GaytoremembertobringallthethingsIwant.” Barneyhadgoneaway,then,inhisLadyJane,andValancystoodinthegardenforalongtime. Sincethenhehadcalledseveraltimes,walkingdownthroughthebarrens,whistling.HowthatwhistleofhisechoedthroughthesprucesonthoseJunetwilights!Valancycaughtherselflisteningforiteveryevening—rebukedherself—thenletherselfgo.Whyshouldn’tshelistenforit? HealwaysbroughtCissyfruitandflowers.OncehebroughtValancyaboxofcandy—thefirstboxofcandyshehadeverbeengiven.Itseemedsacrilegetoeatit. Shefoundherselfthinkingofhiminseasonandoutofseason.Shewantedtoknowifheeverthoughtaboutherwhenshewasn’tbeforehiseyes,and,ifso,what.ShewantedtoseethatmysterioushouseofhisbackontheMistawisisland.Cissyhadneverseenit.Cissy,thoughshetalkedfreelyofBarneyandhadknownhimforfiveyears,reallyknewlittlemoreofhimthanValancyherself. “Butheisn’tbad,”saidCissy.“Nobodyneedevertellmeheis.Hecan’thavedoneathingtobeashamedof.” “Thenwhydoesheliveashedoes?”askedValancy—tohearsomebodydefendhim. “Idon’tknow.He’samystery.Andofcoursethere’ssomethingbehindit,butIknowitisn’tdisgrace.BarneySnaithsimplycouldn’tdoanythingdisgrac