CHAPTER XXIX
關燈
小
中
大
anyhoursadayBarneyshuthimselfupinBluebeard’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,”saidValancy.
“Iwon’tleaveyouagain.”
“Youmust,”protestedValancy,“ifyouwantto.I’dbemiserableifIthoughtyouwantedtogoanddidn’t,becauseofme.Iwantyoutofeelperfectlyfree.”
Barneylaughed—alittlecynically.
“Thereisnosuchthingasfreedomonearth,”hesaid.“Onlydifferentkindsofbondages.Andcomparativebondages.You
