CHAPTER XXII

gquestionslikeblackflies.Alwaysthinkingofappearances.CowedbecauseofAuntWellington’steaspoonsandUncleBenjamin’smoney.Poverty-stricken.Afraidofeverybody.EnvyingOlive.Aslavetomoth-eatentraditions.Nothingtohopefororexpect. Andnoweverydaywasagayadventure. LadyJaneflewoverthefifteenmilesbetweenDeerwoodandthePort—throughthePort.ThewayBarneywentpasttrafficpolicemenwasnotholy.Thelightswerebeginningtotwinkleoutlikestarsintheclear,lemon-huedtwilightair.ThiswastheonlytimeValancyeverreallylikedthetown,andshewascrazywiththedelightofspeeding.Wasitpossibleshehadeverbeenafraidofacar?Shewasperfectlyhappy,ridingbesideBarney.Notthatshedeludedherselfintothinkingithadanysignificance.SheknewquitewellthatBarneyhadaskedhertogoontheimpulseofthemoment—animpulsebornofafeelingofpityforherandherstarvedlittledreams.Shewaslookingtiredafterawakefulnightwithaheartattack,followedbyabusyday.Shehadsolittlefun.He’dgiveheranoutingforonce.Besides,Abelwasinthekitchen,atthepointofdrunkennesswherehewasdeclaringhedidnotbelieveinGodandbeginningtosingribaldsongs.Itwasjustaswellsheshouldbeoutofthewayforawhile.BarneyknewRoaringAbel’srepertoire. Theywenttothemovie—Valancyhadneverbeentoamovie.Andthen,findinganicehungeruponthem,theywentandhadfriedchicken—unbelievablydelicious—intheChineserestaurant.Afterwhichtheyrattledhomeagain,leavingadevastatingtrailofscandalbehindthem.Mrs.Frederickgaveupgoingtochurchaltogether.Shecouldnotendureherfriends’pityingglancesandquestions.ButCousinStickleswenteverySunday.Shesaidtheyhadbeengivenacrosstobear.