CHAPTER XX

upbackislike.I’veneverseenanythingexceptdecorousDeerwood.” Cissysmiledratherdubiously.SheknewmuchbetterthanValancywhataparty“upback”mightbelikeifthereshouldbeliquor.Butagaintheremightn’tbe. “Ihopeyou’llenjoyit,dear,”sherepeated. Valancyenjoyedthedrivethere.Theywentearly,foritwastwelvemilestoChidleyCorners,andtheyhadtogoinAbel’sold,raggedtop-buggy.Theroadwasroughandrocky,likemostMuskokaroads,butfulloftheausterecharmofnorthernwoods.Itwoundthroughbeautiful,purringpinesthatwereranksofenchantmentintheJunesunset,andoverthecuriousjade-greenriversofMuskoka,fringedbyaspensthatwerealwaysquiveringwithsomesupernaljoy. RoaringAbelwasexcellentcompany,too.Heknewallthestoriesandlegendsofthewild,beautiful“upback,”andhetoldthemtoValancyastheydrovealong.ValancyhadseveralfitsofinwardlaughteroverwhatUncleBenjaminandAuntWellington,etal.,wouldfeelandthinkandsayiftheysawherdrivingwithRoaringAbelinthatterriblebuggytoadanceatChidleyCorners. Atfirstthedancewasquietenough,andValancywasamusedandentertained.Sheevendancedtwiceherself,withacoupleofnice“upback”boyswhodancedbeautifullyandtoldhershedid,too. Anothercomplimentcameherway—notaverysubtleone,perhaps,butValancyhadhadtoofewcomplimentsinherlifetobeover-niceonthatpoint.Sheoverheardtwoofthe“upback”youngmentalkingaboutherinthedark“lean-to”behindher. “Knowwhothatgirlingreenis?” “Nope.Guessshe’sfromoutfront.ThePort,maybe.Gotastylishlooktoher.” “Nobeautbutcute-looking,I’llsay.‘Jeverseesucheyes?” Thebigroomwasdecoratedwithpineandfirboughs,andlightedbyChineselanterns.Thefloorwaswaxed,andRoaringAbel’sfiddle,purringunderhisskilledtouch,workedmagic.The“upback”girlswereprettyandprettilydressed.Valancythoughtitthenicestpartyshehadeverattended. Byeleveno’clockshehadchangedhermind.Anewcrowdhadarrived—acrowdunmistakablydrunk.Whiskeybegantocirculatefreely.Verysoonalmostallthemenwerepartlydrunk.Thoseintheporchandoutsidearoundthedoorbeganhowling“come-all-ye’s”andcontinuedtohowlthem.Theroomgrewnoisyandreeking.Quarrelsstarteduphereandthere.Badlanguageandobscenesongswereheard.Thegirls,swungrudelyinthedances,becamedishevelledandtawdry.Valancy,aloneinhercorner,wasfeelingdisgustedandrepentant.Whyhadsheevercometosuchaplace?Freedomandindependencewereallverywell,butoneshouldnotbealittlefool.Shemighthaveknownwhatitwouldbelike—shemighthavetakenwarningfromCissy’sguardedsentences.Herheadwasaching—shewassickofthewholething.Butwhatcouldshedo?Shemuststaytotheend.Abelcouldnotleavetillthen.Andthatwouldprobablybenottillthreeorfourinthemorning. Thenewinfluxofboyshadleftthegirlsfarintheminorityandpartnerswerescarce.Valancywaspesteredwithinvitationstodance.Sherefusedthemallshortly,andsomeofherrefus