CHAPTER XXII

ThenextthingtheStirlingsheardwasthatValancyhadbeenseenwithBarneySnaithinamovietheatreinPortLawrenceandafteritatsupperinaChineserestaurantthere.Thiswasquitetrue—andnoonewasmoresurprisedatitthanValancyherself.BarneyhadcomealonginLadyJaneonedimtwilightandtoldValancyunceremoniouslyifshewantedadrivetohopin. “I’mgoingtothePort.Willyougotherewithme?” Hiseyeswereteasingandtherewasabitofdefianceinhisvoice.Valancy,whodidnotconcealfromherselfthatshewouldhavegoneanywherewithhimtoanyplace,“hoppedin”withoutmoreado.TheytoreintoandthroughDeerwood.Mrs.FrederickandCousinStickles,takingalittleairontheverandah,sawthemwhirlbyinacloudofdustandsoughtcomfortineachother’seyes.Valancy,whoinsomedimpre-existencehadbeenafraidofacar,washatlessandherhairwasblowingwildlyroundherface.Shewouldcertainlycomedownwithbronchitis—anddieatRoaringAbel’s.Sheworealow-neckeddressandherarmswerebare.ThatSnaithcreaturewasinhisshirt-sleeves,smokingapipe.Theyweregoingattherateoffortymilesanhour—sixty,CousinSticklesaverred.LadyJanecouldhitthepikewhenshewantedto.Valancywavedherhandgailytoherrelatives.AsforMrs.Frederick,shewaswishingsheknewhowtogointohysterics. “Wasitforthis,”shedemandedinhollowtones,“thatIsufferedthepangsofmotherhood?” “Iwillnotbelieve,”saidCousinSticklessolemnly,“thatourprayerswillnotyetbeanswered.” “Who—whowillprotectthatunfortunategirlwhenIamgone?”moanedMrs.Frederick. AsforValancy,shewaswonderingifitcouldreallybeonlyafewweekssinceshehadsattherewiththemonthatverandah.Hatingtherubber-plant.Pesteredwithteasin