CHAPTER XXIV

itisallowedhertocome.CousinStickleswasthere,herbonnetdrippingalloverherface,cryingaswoefullyasifCissyhadbeenhernearestanddearest.FuneralsalwaysbroughtCousinStickles’“ownsadbereavement”back. AndUncleWellingtonwasapall-bearer. Valancy,pale,subdued-looking,herslantedeyessmudgedwithpurple,inhersnuff-browndress,movingquietlyabout,findingseatsforpeople,consultinginundertoneswithministerandundertaker,marshallingthe“mourners”intotheparlour,wassodecorousandproperandStirlingishthatherfamilytookheartofgrace.Thiswasnot—couldnotbe—thegirlwhohadsatallnightinthewoodswithBarneySnaith—whohadgonetearingbareheadedthroughDeerwoodandPortLawrence.ThiswastheValancytheyknew.Really,surprisinglycapableandefficient.Perhapsshehadalwaysbeenkeptdownabittoomuch—Ameliareallywasratherstrict—hadn’thadachancetoshowwhatwasinher.SothoughttheStirlings.AndEdwardBeck,fromthePortroad,awidowerwithalargefamilywhowasbeginningtotakenotice,tooknoticeofValancyandthoughtshemightmakeamightyfinesecondwife.Nobeauty—butafifty-year-oldwidower,Mr.Becktoldhimselfveryreasonably,couldn’texpecteverything.Altogether,itseemedthatValancy’smatrimonialchanceswereneversobrightastheywereatCeciliaGay’sfuneral. WhattheStirlingsandEdwardBeckwouldhavethoughthadtheyknownthebackofValancy’smindmustbelefttotheimagination.Valancywashatingthefuneral—hatingthepeoplewhocametostarewithcuriosityatCecilia’smarble-whiteface—hatingthesmugness—hatingthedragging,melancholysinging—hatingMr.Bradly’scautiousplatitudes.Ifshecouldhavehadherabsurdway,therewouldhavebeennofuneralatall.Shewoul