CHAPTER XXVI
關燈
小
中
大
ewaytogetmarried!”BarneywassayingasheputLadyJaneingear.“Nofussandflub-dub.Ineversupposeditwashalfsoeasy.”
“Forheaven’ssake,”saidValancysuddenly,“let’sforgetwearemarriedandtalkasifweweren’t.Ican’tstandanotherdriveliketheonewehadcomingin.”
BarneyhowledandthrewLadyJaneintohighwithaninfernalnoise.
“AndIthoughtIwasmakingiteasyforyou,”hesaid.“Youdidn’tseemtowanttotalk.”
“Ididn’t.ButIwantedyoutotalk.Idon’twantyoutomakelovetome,butIwantyoutoactlikeanordinaryhumanbeing.Tellmeaboutthisislandofyours.Whatsortofaplaceisit?”
“Thejolliestplaceintheworld.You’regoingtoloveit.ThefirsttimeIsawitIlovedit.OldTomMacMurrayowneditthen.Hebuiltthelittleshackonit,livedthereinwinterandrentedittoTorontopeopleinsummer.Iboughtitfromhim—becamebythatonesimpletransactionalandedproprietorowningahouseandanisland.Thereissomethingsosatisfyinginowningawholeisland.Andisn’tanuninhabitedislandacharmingidea?I’dwantedtoownoneeversinceI’dreadRobinsonCrusoe.Itseemedtoogoodtobetrue.Andbeauty!Mostofthescenerybelongstothegovernment,buttheydon’ttaxyouforlookingatit,andthemoonbelongstoeverybody.Youwon’tfindmyshackverytidy.Isupposeyou’llwanttomakeittidy.”
“Yes,”saidValancyhonestly.“Ihavetobetidy.Idon’treallywanttobe.Butuntidinesshurtsme.Yes,I’llhavetotidyupyourshack.”
“Iwaspreparedforthat,”saidBarney,withahollowgroan.
“But,”continuedValancyrelentingly,“Iwon’tinsistonyourwipingyourfeetwhenyoucomein.”
“No,you’llonlysweepupaf
