CHAPTER XXVIII

lancywasdead.HeturnedhisbackonBarney. Valancywashappy—gloriouslyandentirelyso.Sheseemedtobelivinginawonderfulhouseoflifeandeverydayopenedanew,mysteriousroom.Itwasinaworldwhichhadnothingincommonwiththeoneshehadleftbehind—aworldwheretimewasnot—whichwasyoungwithimmortalyouth—wheretherewasneitherpastnorfuturebutonlythepresent.Shesurrenderedherselfutterlytothecharmofit. Theabsolutefreedomofitallwasunbelievable.Theycoulddoexactlyastheyliked.NoMrs.Grundy.Notraditions.Norelatives.Orin-laws.“Peace,perfectpeace,withlovedonesfaraway,”asBarneyquotedshamelessly. Valancyhadgonehomeonceandgothercushions.AndCousinGeorgianahadgivenheroneofherfamouscandlewickspreadsofmostelaboratedesign.“Foryourspare-roombed,dear,”shesaid. “ButIhaven’tgotanyspare-room,”saidValancy. CousinGeorgianalookedhorrified.Ahousewithoutaspare-roomwasmonstroustoher. “Butit’salovelyspread,”saidValancy,withakiss,“andI’msogladtohaveit.I’llputitonmyownbed.Barney’soldpatch-workquiltisgettingragged.” “Idon’tseehowyoucanbecontentedtoliveupback,”sighedCousinGeorgiana.“It’ssooutoftheworld.” “Contented!”Valancylaughed.WhatwastheuseoftryingtoexplaintoCousinGeorgiana.