CHAPTER XXIV

ValancyherselfmadeCissyreadyforburial.Nohandsbuthersshouldtouchthatpitiful,wastedlittlebody.Theoldhousewasspotlessonthedayofthefuneral.BarneySnaithwasnotthere.HehaddoneallhecouldtohelpValancybeforeit—hehadshroudedthepaleCeciliainwhiterosesfromthegarden—andthenhadgonebacktohisisland.Buteverybodyelsewasthere.AllDeerwoodand“upback”came.TheyforgaveCissysplendidlyatlast.Mr.Bradlygaveaverybeautifulfuneraladdress.ValancyhadwantedheroldFreeMethodistman,butRoaringAbelwasobdurate.HewasaPresbyterianandnoonebutaPresbyterianministershouldburyhisdaughter.Mr.Bradlywasverytactful.Heavoidedalldubiouspointsanditwasplaintobeseenhehopedforthebest.SixreputablecitizensofDeerwoodboreCeciliaGaytohergraveindecorousDeerwoodcemetery.AmongthemwasUncleWellington. TheStirlingsallcametothefuneral,menandwomen.Theyhadhadafamilyconclaveoverit.SurelynowthatCissyGaywasdeadValancywouldcomehome.ShesimplycouldnotstaytherewithRoaringAbel.Thatbeingthecase,thewisestcourse—decreedUncleJames—wastoattendthefuneral—legitimisethewholething,sotospeak—showDeerwoodthatValancyhadreallydoneamostcreditabledeedingoingtonursepoorCeciliaGayandthatherfamilybackedherupinit.Death,themiracleworker,suddenlymadethethingquiterespectable.IfValancywouldreturntohomeanddecencywhilepublicopinionwasunderitsinfluenceallmightyetbewell.SocietywassuddenlyforgettingallCecilia’swickeddoingsandrememberingwhatapretty,modestlittlethingshehadbeen—“andmotherless,youknow—motherless!”Itwasthepsychologicalmoment—saidUncleJames. SotheStirlingswenttothefuneral.EvenCousinGladys’neur