CHAPTER XX
關燈
小
中
大
”
ValancyknewBarneycouldnotrealisehowignorantshewasoftheregions“upback.”ShehadlivedinDeerwoodallherlifeandofcoursehesupposedsheknew.Hedidn’tknowhowshehadbeenbroughtup.Therewasnousetryingtoexplain.
“WhenIdriftedinatAbel’sthiseveningandCissytoldmeyou’dcomehereIwasamazed.Anddownrightscared.Cissytoldmeshewasworriedaboutyoubuthadn’tlikedtosayanythingtodissuadeyouforfearyou’dthinkshewasthinkingselfishlyaboutherself.SoIcameonuphereinsteadofgoingtoDeerwood.”
Valancyfeltasuddendelightfulglowirradiatingsoulandbodyunderthedarkpines.Sohehadactuallycomeuptolookafterher.
“Assoonastheystophuntingforuswe’llsneakaroundtotheMuskokaroad.IleftLadyJanedownthere.I’lltakeyouhome.Isupposeyou’vehadenoughofyourparty.”
“Quite,”saidValancymeekly.Thefirsthalfofthewayhomeneitherofthemsaidanything.Itwouldnothavebeenmuchuse.LadyJanemadesomuchnoisetheycouldnothaveheardeachother.Anyway,Valancydidnotfeelconversationallyinclined.Shewasashamedofthewholeaffair—ashamedofherfollyingoing—ashamedofbeingfoundinsuchaplacebyBarneySnaith.ByBarneySnaith,reputedjail-breaker,infidel,forgeranddefaulter.Valancy’slipstwitchedinthedarknessasshethoughtofit.Butshewasashamed.
Andyetshewasenjoyingherself—wasfullofastrangeexultation—bumpingoverthatroughroadbesideBarneySnaith.Thebigtreesshotbythem.Thetallmulleinsstoodupalongtheroadinstiff,orderlyrankslikecompaniesofsoldiers.Thethistleslookedlikedrunkenfairiesortipsyelvesastheircar-lightspassedoverthem.Thiswasthefirsttimeshehadevenbeeninacar.Afterall,shelikedit.Shewasnotintheleastafraid,withBarneyatthewheel.Herspiritsroserapidlyastheytorealong.Sheceasedtofeelashamed.Sheceasedtofeelanythingexceptthatshewaspartofacometrushinggloriouslythroughthenightofspace.
Allatonce,justwherethepinewoodsfrayedouttothescrubbarrens,LadyJanebecamequiet—tooquiet.LadyJanesloweddownquietly—andstopped.
Barneyutteredanaghastexclamation.Gotout.Investigated.Cameapologeticallyback.
“I’madodderingidiot.Outofgas.IknewIwasshortwhenIlefthome,butImeanttofillupinDeerwood.ThenIforgotallaboutitinmyhurrytogettotheCorners.”
“Whatcanwedo?”askedValancycoolly.
“Idon’tknow.There’snogasnearerthanDeerwood,ninemilesaway.AndIdon’tdareleaveyouherealone.Therearealwaystrampsonthisroad—andsomeofthosecrazyfoolsbackattheCornersmaycomestragglingalongpresently.TherewereboystherefromthePort.AsfarasIcansee,thebestthingtodoisforusjusttositpatientlyhereuntilsomecarcomesalongandlendsusenoughgastogettoRoaringAbel’swith.”
“Well,what’sthematterwiththat?”saidValancy.
“Wemayhavetosithereallnight,”saidBarney.
“Idon’tmind,”saidValancy.
Barneygaveashortlaugh.“Ifyoudon’t,Ineedn’t.Ihaven’tanyreputationtolose.”
“NorI,”saidValancycomfortably.