CHAPTER XXI
關燈
小
中
大
ther.Isn’titawfulthatIdon’tlovemymother?”
“Ratherawful—forher,”saidBarneydrily.
“Oh,shedidn’tknowit.Shetookmyloveforgranted.AndIwasn’tanyuseorcomforttoheroranybody.Iwasjusta—a—vegetable.AndIgottiredofit.That’swhyIcametokeephouseforMr.GayandlookafterCissy.”
“AndIsupposeyourpeoplethoughtyou’dgonemad.”
“Theydid—anddo—literally,”saidValancy.“Butit’sacomforttothem.They’dratherbelievememadthanbad.There’snootheralternative.ButI’vebeenlivingsinceIcametoMr.Gay’s.It’sbeenadelightfulexperience.IsupposeI’llpayforitwhenIhavetogoback—butI’llhavehadit.”
“That’strue,”saidBarney.“Ifyoubuyyourexperienceit’syourown.Soit’snomatterhowmuchyoupayforit.Somebodyelse’sexperiencecanneverbeyours.Well,it’safunnyoldworld.”
“Doyouthinkitreallyisold?”askedValancydreamily.“IneverbelievethatinJune.Itseemssoyoungtonight—somehow.Inthatquiveringmoonlight—likeayoung,whitegirl—waiting.”
“Moonlighthereonthevergeofupbackisdifferentfrommoonlightanywhereelse,”agreedBarney.“Italwaysmakesmefeelsoclean,somehow—bodyandsoul.Andofcoursetheageofgoldalwayscomesbackinspring.”
Itwasteno’clocknow.Adragonofblackcloudateupthemoon.Thespringairgrewchill—Valancyshivered.BarneyreachedbackintotheinnardsofLadyJaneandclawedupanold,tobacco-scentedovercoat.
“Putthaton,”heordered.
“Don’tyouwantityourself?”protestedValancy.
“No.I’mnotgoingtohaveyoucatchingcoldonmyhands.”
“Oh,Iwon’tcatchcold.Ihaven’thadacoldsinceIcametoMr.Gay’s—thoughI’vedonethefoolishestthings.It’sfunny,too—Iusedtohavethemallthetime.Ifeelsoselfishtakingyourcoat.”
“You’vesneezedthreetimes.Nousewindingupyour‘experience’upbackwithgrippeorpneumonia.”
Hepulledituptightaboutherthroatandbuttoneditonher.Valancysubmittedwithsecretdelight.Howniceitwastohavesomeonelookafteryouso!Shesnuggleddownintothetobaccoeyfoldsandwishedthenightcouldlastforever.
Tenminuteslateracarswoopeddownonthemfrom“upback.”BarneysprangfromLadyJaneandwavedhishand.Thecarcametoastopbesidethem.ValancysawUncleWellingtonandOlivegaz
