CHAPTER XXIV

outValancyinthekitchen. “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.”