CHAPTER XIX

earistheoriginalsin,”suddenlysaidastill,smallvoiceawayback—back—backofValancy’sconsciousness.“Almostalltheevilintheworldhasitsorigininthefactthatsomeoneisafraidofsomething.” Valancystoodup.Shewasstillintheclutchesoffear,buthersoulwasherownagain.Shewouldnotbefalsetothatinnervoice. “Dr.Stalling,”shesaidslowly,“Idonotatpresentoweanydutytomymother.Sheisquitewellshehasalltheassistanceandcompanionshipsherequiresshedoesnotneedmeatall.Iamneededhere.Iamgoingtostayhere.” “There’sspunkforyou,”saidRoaringAbeladmiringly. Dr.Stallingdroppedhisforefinger.Onecouldnotkeeponshakingafingerforever. “MissStirling,istherenothingthatcaninfluenceyou?Doyourememberyourchildhooddays——” “Perfectly.Andhatethem.” “Doyourealisewhatpeoplewillsay?Whattheyaresaying?” “Icanimagineit,”saidValancy,withashrugofhershoulders.Shewassuddenlyfreeoffearagain.“Ihaven’tlistenedtothegossipofDeerwoodteapartiesandsewingcirclestwentyyearsfornothing.But,Dr.Stalling,itdoesn’tmatterintheleasttomewhattheysay—notintheleast.” Dr.Stallingwentawaythen.Agirlwhocarednothingforpublicopinion!Overwhomsacredfamilytieshadnorestraininginfluence!Whohatedherchildhoodmemories! ThenCousinGeorgianacame—onherowninitiative,fornobodywouldhavethoughtitworthwhiletosendher.ShefoundValancyalone,weedingthelittlevegetablegardenshehadplanted,andshemadealltheplatitudinouspleasshecouldthinkof.Valancyheardherpatiently.CousinGeorgianawasn’tsuchabadoldsoul.Thenshesaid: “Andnowthatyouhavegotallthatoutofyoursystem,CousinGeorgiana,canyoutellmehowtomakecreamedcodfishsothatitwillnotbeasthickasporridgeandassaltastheDeadSea?” ******* “We’lljusthavetowait,”saidUncleBenjamin.“Afterall,CissyGaycan’tlivelong.Dr.Marshtellsmeshemaydropoffanyday.” Mrs.Frederickwept.ItwouldreallyhavebeensomucheasiertobearifValancyhaddied.Shecouldhavewornmourningthen.