CHAPTER XXIV

dhavecoveredCissyoverwithflowers,shutherawayfrompryingeyes,andburiedherbesidehernamelesslittlebabyinthegrassyburying-groundunderthepinesofthe“upback”church,withabitofkindlyprayerfromtheoldFreeMethodistminister.SherememberedCissysayingonce,“IwishIcouldbeburieddeepintheheartofthewoodswherenobodywouldevercometosay,‘CissyGayisburiedhere,’andtellovermymiserablestory.” Butthis!However,itwouldsoonbeover.Valancyknew,iftheStirlingsandEdwardBeckdidn’t,exactlywhatsheintendedtodothen.Shehadlainawakealltheprecedingnightthinkingaboutitandfinallydecidingonit. Whenthefuneralprocessionhadleftthehouse,Mrs.FredericksoughtoutValancyinthekitchen. “Mychild,”shesaidtremulously,“you’llcomehomenow?” “Home,”saidValancyabsently.Shewasgettingonanapronandcalculatinghowmuchteashemustputtosteepforsupper.Therewouldbeseveralguestsfrom“upback”—distantrelativesoftheGays’whohadnotrememberedthemforyears.Andshewassotiredshewishedshecouldborrowapairoflegsfromthecat. “Yes,home,”saidMrs.Frederick,withatouchofasperity.“Isupposeyouwon’tdreamofstayingherenow—alonewithRoaringAbel.” “Oh,no,I’mnotgoingtostayhere,”saidValancy.“Ofcourse,I’llhavetostayforadayortwo,toputthehouseinordergenerally.Butthatwillbeall.Excuseme,Mother,won’tyou?I’veafrightfullottodo—allthose“upback”peoplewillbeheretosupper.” Mrs.Frederickretreatedinconsiderablerelief,andtheStirlingswenthomewithlighterhearts. “Wewilljusttreatherasifnothinghadhappenedwhenshecomesback,”decreedUncleBenjamin.“Thatwillbethebestplan.Justasifnothinghadhappened.”