CHAPTER XX

alswerenotwelltaken.Thereweremutteredoathsandsullenlooks.Acrosstheroomshesawagroupofthestrangerstalkingtogetherandglancingmeaninglyather.Whatweretheyplotting? ItwasatthismomentthatshesawBarneySnaithlookinginovertheheadsofthecrowdatthedoorway.Valancyhadtwodistinctconvictions—onewasthatshewasquitesafenowtheotherwasthatthiswaswhyshehadwantedtocometothedance.Ithadbeensuchanabsurdhopethatshehadnotrecogniseditbefore,butnowsheknewshehadcomebecauseofthepossibilitythatBarneymightbethere,too.Shethoughtthatperhapssheoughttobeashamedforthis,butshewasn’t.AfterherfeelingofreliefhernextfeelingwasoneofannoyancewithBarneyforcomingthereunshaved.Surelyhemighthaveenoughself-respecttogroomhimselfupdecentlywhenhewenttoaparty.Therehewas,bareheaded,bristly-chinned,inhisoldtrousersandhisbluehomespunshirt.Notevenacoat.Valancycouldhaveshakenhiminheranger.Nowonderpeoplebelievedeverythingbadofhim. Butshewasnotafraidanylonger.Oneofthewhisperinggrouplefthiscomradesandcameacrosstheroomtoher,throughthewhirlingcouplesthatnowfilledituncomfortably.Hewasatall,broad-shoulderedfellow,notill-dressedorill-lookingbutunmistakablyhalfdrunk.HeaskedValancytodance.Valancydeclinedcivilly.Hisfaceturnedlivid.Hethrewhisarmaboutherandpulledhertohim.Hishot,whiskiedbreathburnedherface. “Wewon’thavefine-ladyairshere,mygirl.Ifyouain’ttoogoodtocomehereyouain’ttoogoodtodancewithus.Meandmypalshavebeenwatchingyou.You’vegottogiveuseachaturnandakisstoboot.” Valancytrieddesperatelyandvainlytofreeherself.Shewasbeingdraggedoutintothemazeofshouting,stamping,yellingdancers.Thenextmomentthemanwhoheldherwentstaggeringacrosstheroomfromaneatlyplantedblowonthejaw,knockingdownwhirlingcouplesashewent.Valancyfeltherarmgrasped. “Thisway—quick,”saidBarneySnaith.Heswungheroutthroughtheopenwindowbehindthem,vaultedlightlyoverthesillandcaughtherhand. “Quick—wemustrunforit—they’llbeafterus.” Valancyranasshehadneverrunbefore,clingingtighttoBarney’shand,wonderingwhyshedidnotdropdeadinsuchamadscamper.Supposeshedid!Whatascandalitwouldmakeforherpoorpeople.ForthefirsttimeValancyfeltalittlesorryforthem.Also,shefeltgladthatshehadescapedfromthathorriblerow.Also,gladthatshewasholdingtighttoBarney’shand.Herfeelingswerebadlymixedandshehadneverhadsomanyinsuchabrieftimeinherlife. Theyfinallyreachedaquietcornerinthepinewoods.Thepursuithadtakenadifferentdirectionandthewhoopsandyellsbehindthemweregrowingfaint.Valancy,outofbreath,withacrazilybeatingheart,collapsedonthetrunkofafallenpine. “Thanks,”shegasped. “Whatagooseyouweretocometosuchaplace!”saidBarney. “I—didn’t—know—it—would—belikethis,”protestedValancy. “Youshouldhaveknown.ChidleyCorners!” “It—was—just—aname—tome.