CHAPTER XXVII

CousinGeorgianacamedownthelaneleadinguptoherlittlehouse.ShelivedhalfamileoutofDeerwoodandshewantedtogointoAmelia’sandfindoutifDosshadcomehomeyet.CousinGeorgianawasanxioustoseeDoss.Shehadsomethingveryimportanttotellher.Something,shewassure,Dosswouldbedelightedtohear.PoorDoss!Shehadhadratheradulllifeofit.CousinGeorgianaownedtoherselfthatshewouldnotliketoliveunderAmelia’sthumb.Butthatwouldbeallchangednow.CousinGeorgianafelttremendouslyimportant.Forthetimebeing,shequiteforgottowonderwhichofthemwouldgonext. AndherewasDossherself,comingalongtheroadfromRoaringAbel’sinsuchaqueergreendressandhat.Talkaboutluck.CousinGeorgianawouldhaveachancetoimpartherwonderfulsecretrightaway,withnobodyelseabouttointerrupt.Itwas,youmightsay,aProvidence. Valancy,whohadbeenlivingforfourdaysonherenchantedisland,haddecidedthatshemightaswellgointoDeerwoodandtellherrelativesthatshewasmarried.Otherwise,findingthatshehaddisappearedfromRoaringAbel’s,theymightgetoutasearchwarrantforher.Barneyhadofferedtodriveherin,butshehadpreferredtogoalone.ShesmiledveryradiantlyatCousinGeorgiana,who,sheremembered,asofsomeoneknownalongtimeago,hadreallybeennotabadlittlecreature.Valancywassohappythatshecouldhavesmiledatanybody—evenUncleJames.ShewasnotaversetoCousinGeorgiana’scompany.Already,sincethehousesalongtheroadwerebecomingnumerous,shewasconsciousthatcuriouseyeswerelookingatherfromeverywindow. “Isupposeyou’regoinghome,dearDoss?”saidCousinGeorgianaassheshookhands—furtivelyeyeingValancy’sdressandwonderingifshehadanypetticoatonatall. “Soonerorlater,”saidValancycryptically. “ThenI’llgoalongwithyou.I’vebeenwantingtoseeyouveryespecially,Dossdear.I’vesomethingquitewonderfultotellyou.” “Yes?”saidValancyabsently.WhatonearthwasCousinGeorgianalookingsomysteriousandimportantabout?Butdiditmatter?No.NothingmatteredbutBarneyandtheBlueCastleupbackinMistawis. “Whodoyousupposecalledtoseemetheotherday?”askedCousinGeorgianaarchly. Valancycouldn’tguess. “EdwardBeck.”CousinGeorgianaloweredhervoicealmosttoawhisper.“EdwardBeck.” Whytheitalics?AndwasCousinGeorgianablushing? “WhoonearthisEdwardBeck?”askedValancyindifferently. CousinGeorgianastared. “SurelyyourememberEdwardBeck,”shesaidreproachfully.“HelivesinthatlovelyhouseonthePortLawrenceroadandhecomestoourchurch—regularly.Youmustrememberhim.” “Oh,IthinkIdonow,”saidValancy,withaneffortofmemory.“He’sthatoldmanwithawenonhisforeheadanddozensofchildren,whoalwayssitsinthepewbythedoor,isn’the?” “Notdozensofchildren,dear—oh,no,notdozens.Notevenonedozen.Onlynine.Atleastonlyninethatcount.Therestaredead.Heisn’told—he’sonlyaboutforty-eight—theprimeoflife,Doss—andwhatdoesitmatteraboutawen?” “Nothing,ofcourse,”agreedValancyquitesincerely.ItcertainlydidnotmattertoherwhetherEdwardBeckhadawenoradozenwensornowenatall.ButValancywasgettingvaguelysuspicious.TherewascertainlyanairofsuppressedtriumphaboutCousinGeorgiana.CoulditbepossiblethatCousinGeorgianawasthinkingofmarryingagain?MarryingEdwardBeck?Absurd.CousinGeorgianawassixty-fiveifshewereadayandherlittleanxiousfacewasascloselycoveredwithfinewrinklesasifshehadbeenahundred.Butstill—— “Mydear,”saidCousinGeorgiana,“EdwardBeckwantstomarryyou.” ValancystaredatCousinGeorgianaforamoment.Thenshewantedtogooffintoapealoflaughter.Butsheonlysaid: “Me?” “Yes,you.Hefellinlovewithyouat