CHAPTER XXIV

Thatbeingthecase,thewisestcourse—decreedUncleJames—wastoattendthefuneral—legitimisethewholething,sotospeak—showDeerwoodthatValancyhadreallydoneamostcreditabledeedingoingtonursepoorCeciliaGayandthatherfamilybackedherupinit.Death,themiracleworker,suddenlymadethethingquiterespectable.IfValancywouldreturntohomeanddecencywhilepublicopinionwasunderitsinfluenceallmightyetbewell.SocietywassuddenlyforgettingallCecilia’swickeddoingsandrememberingwhatapretty,modestlittlethingshehadbeen—“andmotherless,youknow—motherless!”Itwasthepsychologicalmoment—saidUncleJames. SotheStirlingswenttothefuneral.EvenCousinGladys’neuritisallowedhertocome.CousinStickleswasthere,herbonnetdrippingalloverherface,cryingaswoefullyasifCissyhadbeenhernearestanddearest.FuneralsalwaysbroughtCousinStickles’“ownsadbereavement”back. AndUncleWellingtonwasapall-bearer. Valancy,pale,subdued-looking,herslantedeyessmudgedwithpurple,inhersnuff-brown