CHAPTER XXI

llyamountsto.Yourcousin!” PoorOlivefelttheimplication.ThePortLawrencePriceswerenotaccustomedtoallythemselveswithfamilieswhosemembers“workedout.” Valancycouldnotresisttemptation.Sheleanedforward. “Olive,doesithurt?” Olivebit—stiffly. “Doeswhathurt?” “Lookinglikethat.” ForamomentOliveresolvedshewouldtakenofurthernoticeofValancy.Thendutycameuppermost.Shemustnotmisstheopportunity. “Doss,”sheimplored,leaningforwardalso,“won’tyoucomehome—comehometonight?” Valancyyawned. “Yousoundlikearevivalmeeting,”shesaid.“Youreallydo.” “Ifyouwillcomeback——” “Allwillbeforgiven.” “Yes,”saidOliveeagerly.Wouldn’titbesplendidifshecouldinducetheprodigaldaughtertoreturn?“We’llnevercastituptoyou.Doss,therearenightswhenIcannotsleepforthinkingofyou.” “Andmehavingthetimeofmylife,”saidValancy,laughing. “Doss,Ican’tbelieveyou’rebad.I’vealwayssaidyoucouldn’tbebad——” “Idon’tbelieveIcanbe,”saidValancy.“I’mafraidI’mhopelesslyproper.I’vebeensittinghereforthreehourswithBarneySnaithandhehasn’teventriedtokissme.Iwouldn’thavemindedifhehad,Olive.” Valancywasstillleaningforward.Herlittlehatwithitscrimsonrosewastilteddownoveroneeye.Olivestared.InthemoonlightValancy’seyes—Valancy’ssmile—whathadhappenedtoValancy!Shelooked—notpretty—Dosscouldn’tbepretty—butprovocative,fascinating—yes,abominablyso.Olivedrewback.Itwasbeneathherdignitytosaymore.Afterall,Valancymustbebothmadandbad. “Thanks—that’senough,”saidBarneybehindthecar.“Muchobliged,Mr.Stirling.Twogallons—seventycents.Thankyou.” UncleWellingtonclimbedfoolishlyandfeeblyintohiscar.HewantedtogiveSnaithapieceofhismind,butdarednot.Whoknewwhatthecreaturemightdoifprovoked?Nodoubthecarriedfirearms. UncleWellingtonlookedindecisivelyatValancy.ButValancyhadturnedherbackonhimandwaswatchingBarneypourthegasintoLadyJane’smaw. “Driveon,”saidOlivedecisively.“There’snouseinwaitinghere.Letmetellyouwhatshesaidtome.” “Thelittlehussy!Theshamelesslittlehussy!”saidUncleWellington.