CHAPTER XXV
關燈
小
中
大
tdo.’”
“Butwhy—why?”
“Fortworeasons.”Valancywasstillalittlebreathless,butshelookedBarneystraightintheeyes,whileallthedeadStirlingsrevolvedrapidlyintheirgravesandthelivingonesdidnothingbecausetheydidnotknowthatValancywasatthatmomentproposinglawfulmarriagetothenotoriousBarneySnaith.“Thefirstreasonis,I—I”—Valancytriedtosay“Iloveyou”butcouldnot.Shehadtotakerefugeinapretendedflippancy.“I’mcrazyaboutyou.Thesecondis—this.”
ShehandedhimDr.Trent’sletter.
Barneyopeneditwiththeairofamanthankfultofindsomesafe,sanethingtodo.Ashereadithisfacechanged.Heunderstood—moreperhapsthanValancywantedhimto.
“Areyousurenothingcanbedoneforyou?”
Valancydidnotmisunderstandthequestion.
“Yes.YouknowDr.Trent’sreputationinregardtoheartdisease.Ihaven’tlongtolive—perhapsonlyafewmonths—afewweeks.Iwanttolivethem.Ican’tgobacktoDeerwood—youknowwhatmylifewaslikethere.And”—shemanageditthistime—“Iloveyou.Iwanttospendtherestofmylifewithyou.That’sall.”
Barneyfoldedhisarmsonthegateandlookedgravelyenoughatawhite,saucystarthatwaswinkingathimjustoverRoaringAbel’skitchenchimney.
“Youdon’tknowanythingaboutme.Imaybea—murderer.”
“No,Idon’t.Youmaybesomethingdreadful.Everythingtheysayofyoumaybetrue.Butitdoesn’tmatterto
