CHAPTER XXVI

blyneighbourly.Call’emNipandTuck.AndIhaveademurelittletameowl.Name,Leander.Ibroughthimupfromababyandhelivesoveronthemainlandandchucklestohimselfo’nights.Andbats—it’sagreatplaceforbatsatnight.Scaredofbats?” “NoIlikethem.” “SodoI.Nice,queer,uncanny,mysteriouscreatures.Comingfromnowhere—goingnowhere.Swoop!Banjolikes’em,too.Eats’em.Ihaveacanoeandadisappearingpropellerboat.WenttothePortinittodaytogetmylicense.QuieterthanLadyJane.” “Ithoughtyouhadn’tgoneatall—thatyouhadchangedyourmind,”admittedValancy. Barneylaughed—thelaughValancydidnotlike—thelittle,bitter,cynicallaugh. “Ineverchangemymind,”hesaidshortly. TheywentbackthroughDeerwood.UptheMuskokaroad.PastRoaringAbel’s.Overtherocky,daisiedlane.Thedarkpinewoodsswallowedthemup.Throughthepinewoods,wheretheairwassweetwiththeincenseoftheunseen,fragilebellsofthelinn?asthatcarpetedthebanksofthetrail.OuttotheshoreofMistawis.LadyJanemustbelefthere.Theygotout.Barneyledthewaydownalittlepathtotheedgeofthelake. “There’sourisland,”hesaidgloatingly. Valancylooked—andlooked—andlookedagain.Therewasadiaphanous,lilacmistonthelake,shroudingtheisland.Throughitthetwoenormouspine-treesthatclaspedhandsoverBarney’sshackloomedoutlikedarkturrets.Behindthemwasaskystillrose-huedintheafterlight,andapaleyoungmoon. Valancyshiveredlikeatreethewindstirssuddenly.Somethingseemedtosweepoverhersoul. “MyBlueCastle!”shesaid.“Oh,myBlueCastle!” Theygotintothecanoeandpaddledouttoit.Theyleftbehindtherealmofeverydayandthingsknownandlandedonarealmofmysteryandenchantmentwhereanythingmighthappen—anythingmightbetrue.BarneyliftedValancyoutofthecanoeandswunghertoalichen-coveredrockunderayoungpine-tree.Hisarmswereaboutherandsuddenlyhislipswereonhers.Valancyfoundherselfshiveringwiththeraptureofherfirstkiss. “Welcomehome,dear,”Barneywassaying.