CHAPTER XXVI
關燈
小
中
大
propellerboat.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.
