CHAPTER XXIX

Gossard‘thefinestsummerresidenceinCanada.’Itismagnificent,butitisn’tmyBlueCastle.” Awaydownatthefarendofthelaketheygoteverynightaglimpseofabig,continentaltrainrushingthroughaclearing.Valancylikedtowatchitslightedwindowsflashbyandwonderwhowasonitandwhathopesandfearsitcarried.ShealsoamusedherselfbypicturingBarneyandherselfgoingtothedancesanddinnersinthehousesontheislands,butshedidnotwanttogoinreality.Oncetheydidgotoamasqueradedanceinthepavilionatoneofthehotelsupthelake,andhadagloriousevening,butslippedawayintheircanoe,beforeunmaskingtime,backtotheBlueCastle. “Itwaslovely—butIdon’twanttogoagain,”saidValancy. SomanyhoursadayBarneyshuthimselfupinBluebeard’sChamber.Valancyneversawtheinsideofit.Fromthesmellsthatfilteredthroughattimessheconcludedhemustbeconductingchemicalexperiments—orcounterfeitingmoney.Valancysupposedtheremustbesmellyprocessesinmakingcounterfeitmoney.Butshedidnottroubleherselfaboutit.ShehadnodesiretopeerintothelockedchambersofBarney’shouseoflife.Hispastandhisfutureconcernedhernot.Onlythisrapturouspresent.Nothingelsemattered. Oncehewentawayandstayedawaytwodaysandnights.HehadaskedValancyifshewouldbeafraidtostayaloneandshehadsaidshewouldnot.Henevertoldherwherehehadbeen.Shewasnotafraidtobealone,butshewashorriblylonely.ThesweetestsoundshehadeverheardwasLadyJane’sclatterthroughthewoodswhenBarneyreturned.Andthenhissignalwhistlefromtheshore.Sherandowntothelandingrocktogreethim—tonestleherselfintohiseagerarms—theydidseemeager. “Haveyoumissedme,Moonlight?”Barneywaswhispering. “Itseemsahundredyearssinceyouwentaway,”s