CHAPTER XX
關燈
小
中
大
on,”UncleBenjaminpredictedgloomily.
Theydid.
Valancycouldnotquiteexplain,eventoherself,justwhyshewantedtogotothatparty.Itwasadance“upback”atChidleyCornersanddancesatChidleyCornerswerenot,asarule,thesortofassemblieswherewell-brought-upyoungladieswerefound.Valancyknewitwascomingoff,forRoaringAbelhadbeenengagedasoneofthefiddlers.
ButtheideaofgoinghadneveroccurredtoheruntilRoaringAbelhimselfbroacheditatsupper.
“Youcomewithmetothedance,”heordered.“It’lldoyougood—putsomecolourinyourface.Youlookpeaked—youwantsomethingtolivenyouup.”
Valancyfoundherselfsuddenlywantingtogo.SheknewnothingatallofwhatdancesatChidleyCornerswereapttobelike.HerideaofdanceshadbeenfashionedonthecorrectaffairsthatwentbythatnameinDeerwoodandPortLawrence.OfcoursesheknewtheCorners’dancewouldn’tbejustlikethem.Muchmoreinformal,ofcourse.Butsomuchthemoreinteresting.Whyshouldn’tshego?Cissywasinaweekofapparenthealthandimprovement.Shewouldn’tmindstayingaloneintheleast.SheentreatedValancytogoifshewantedto.AndValancydidwanttogo.
Shewenttoherroomtodress.Arageagainstthesnuff-brownsilkseizedher.Wearthattoaparty!Never.Shepulledhergreencrêpefromitshangerandputitonfeverishly.Itwasnonsensetofeelso—so—naked—justbecauseherneckandarmswerebare.Thatwasjustheroldmaidishness.Shewouldnotberiddenbyit.Onwentthedress—theslippers.
Itwasthefirsttimeshehadwornaprettydresssincetheorgandiesofherearlyteens.Andtheyhadnevermadeherlooklikethis.
Ifsheonlyhadanecklaceorsomething.Shewouldn’tfeelsobarethen.Sherandowntothegarden.Therewerecloversthere—greatcrimsonthingsgrowinginthelonggrass.Valancygatheredhandfulsofthemandstrungthemonacord.Fastenedabovehernecktheygaveherthecomfortablesensationofacollarandwereoddlybecoming.Anothercircletofthemwentroundherhair,dressedinthelowpuffsthatbecameher.Excitementbroughtthosefaintpinkstainstoherface.Sheflungonhercoatandpulledthelittle,twistyhatoverherhair.
“Youlooksoniceand—and—different,dear,”saidCissy.“Likeagreenmoonbeamwithagleamofredinit,iftherecouldbesuchathing.”
Valancystoopedtokissher.
“Idon’tfeelrightaboutleavingyoualone,Cissy.”
“Oh,I’llbeallright.IfeelbettertonightthanIhaveforalongwhile.I’vebeenfeelingbadlytoseeyoustickingheresocloselyonmyaccount.Ihopeyou’llhaveanicetime.IneverwasatapartyattheCorners,butIusedtogosometimes,longago,todancesupback.Wealwayshadgoodtimes.Andyouneedn’tbeafraidofFatherbeingdrunktonight.Heneverdrinkswhenheengagestoplayforaparty.But—theremaybe—liquor.Whatwillyoudoifitgetsrough?”
“Nobodywouldmolestme.”
“Notseriously,Isuppose.Fatherwouldseetothat.Butitmightbenoisyand—andunpleasant.”
“Iwon’tmind.I’monlygoingasalooker-on.Idon’texpecttodance.Ijustwanttoseewhataparty