CHAPTER XXV
關燈
小
中
大
me.”
“Youcarethatmuchforme,Valancy?”saidBarneyincredulously,lookingawayfromthestarandintohereyes—herstrange,mysteriouseyes.
“Icare—thatmuch,”saidValancyinalowvoice.Shewastrembling.Hehadcalledherbyhernameforthefirsttime.Itwassweeterthananotherman’scaresscouldhavebeenjusttohearhimsayhernamelikethat.
“Ifwearegoingtogetmarried,”saidBarney,speakingsuddenlyinacasual,matter-of-factvoice,“somethingsmustbeunderstood.”
“Everythingmustbeunderstood,”saidValancy.
“IhavethingsIwanttohide,”saidBarneycoolly.“Youarenottoaskmeaboutthem.”
“Iwon’t,”saidValancy.
“Youmustneverasktoseemymail.”
“Never.”
“Andwearenevertopretendanythingtoeachother.”
“Wewon’t,”saidValancy.“Youwon’tevenhavetopretendyoulikeme.IfyoumarrymeIknowyou’reonlydoingitoutofpity.”
“Andwe’llnevertellalietoeachotheraboutanything—abiglieorapettylie.”
“Especiallyapettylie,”agreedValancy.
“Andyou’llhavetolivebackonmyisland.Iwon’tliveanywhereelse.”
“That’spartlywhyIwanttomarryyou,”saidValancy.
Barneypeeredather.
“Ibelieveyoumeanit.Well—let’sgetmarried,then.”
“Thankyou,”saidValancy,withasuddenreturnofprimness.Shewouldhavebeenmuchlessembarrassedifhehadrefusedher.
“IsupposeIhaven’tanyrighttomakeconditions.ButI’mgoingtom
