CHAPTER XXVII
關燈
小
中
大
thefuneral.Andhecametoconsultmeaboutit.Iwassuchafriendofhisfirstwife,youknow.Heisverymuchinearnest,Dossie.Andit’sawonderfulchanceforyou.He’sverywelloff—andyouknow—you—you——”
“AmnotsoyoungasIoncewas,”agreedValancy.“‘Toherthathathshallbegiven.’DoyoureallythinkIwouldmakeagoodstepmother,CousinGeorgiana?”
“I’msureyouwould.Youwerealwayssofondofchildren.”
“Butnineissuchafamilytostartwith,”objectedValancygravely.
“Thetwooldestaregrownupandthethirdalmost.Thatleavesonlysixthatreallycount.Andmostofthemareboys.Somucheasiertobringupthangirls.There’sanexcellentbook—‘HealthCareoftheGrowingChild’—Gladyshasacopy,Ithink.Itwouldbesuchahelptoyou.Andtherearebooksaboutmorals.You’dmanagenicely.OfcourseItoldMr.BeckthatIthoughtyouwould—would——”
“Jumpathim,”suppliedValancy.
“Oh,no,no,dear.Iwouldn’tusesuchanindelicateexpression.ItoldhimIthoughtyouwouldconsiderhisproposalfavourably.Andyouwill,won’tyou,dearie?”
“There’sonlyoneobstacle,”saidValancydreamily.“Yousee,I’mmarriedalready.”
“Married!”CousinGeorgianastoppedstock-stillandstaredatValancy.“Married!”
“Yes.IwasmarriedtoBarneySnaithlastTuesdayeveninginPortLawrence.”
Therewasaconvenientgate-posthardby.CousinGeorgianatookfirmholdofit.
“Doss,dear—I’manoldwoman—areyoutryingtomakefunofme?”
“Notatall.I’monlytellingyouthetruth.Forheaven’ssake,CousinGeorgiana,”—Valancywasalarmedbycertainsymptoms—“don’tgocryinghereonthepublicroad!”
CousinGeorgianachokedbackthetearsandgavealittlemoanofdespairinstead.
“Oh,Doss,whathaveyoudone?Whathaveyoudone?”
“I’vejustbeentellingyou.I’vegotmarried,”saidValancy,calmlyandpatiently.
“Tothat—that—aw—that—BarneySnaith.Why,theysayhe’shadadozenwivesalready.”
“I’mtheonlyoneroundatpresent,”saidValancy.
“Whatwillyourpoormothersay?”moanedCousinGeorgiana.
“Comealongwithmeandhear,ifyouwanttoknow,”saidValancy.“I’monmywaytotellhernow.”
CousinGeorgianaletgothegate-postcautiouslyandfoundthatshecouldstandalone.ShemeeklytrottedonbesideValancy—whosuddenlyseemedquiteadifferentpersoninhereyes.CousinGeorgianahadatremendousrespectforamarriedwoman.Butitwasterribletothinkofwhatthepoorgirlhaddone.Sorash.Soreckless.OfcourseValancymustbestarkmad.ButsheseemedsohappyinhermadnessthatCousinGeorgianahadamomentaryconvictionthatitwouldbeapityiftheclantriedtoscoldherbacktosanity.ShehadneverseenthatlookinValancy’seyesbefore.ButwhatwouldAmeliasay?AndBen?
“Tomarryamanyouknownothingabout,”thoughtCousinGeorgianaaloud.
“IknowmoreabouthimthanIknowofEdwardBeck,”saidValancy.
“EdwardBeckgoestochurch,”saidCousinGeorgiana.“DoesBar—doesyourhusband?”
“HehaspromisedthathewillgowithmeonfineSundays,”saidValancy.
WhentheyturnedinattheStirlinggateValancygaveanexclamationofsurprise.
“Lookatmyrosebush!Why,it’sblooming!”
Itwas.Coveredwithblossoms.Great,crimson,velvetyblossoms.Fragrant.Glowing.Wonderful.
“Mycuttingittopiecesmusthavedoneitgood,”saidValancy,laughing.Shegatheredahandfuloftheblossoms—theywouldlookwellonthesupper-tableoftheverandahatMistawis—andwent,stilllaughing,upthewalk,consciousthatOlivewasstandingonthesteps,Olive,goddess-likeinloveliness,lookingdownwithaslightfrownonherforehead.Olive,beautiful,insolent.Herfullformvoluptuousinitsswathingsofrosesilkandlace.Hergolden-brownhaircurlingrichlyunderherbig,white-frilledhat.Hercolourripeandmelting.
“Beautiful,”thoughtValancycoolly,“but”—