CHAPTER XXX

fore. Andalways,Sundaysandweekdays,shewaswithBarney.Nothingelsereallymattered.Andwhatacompanionhewas!Howunderstanding!Howjolly!How—howBarney—like!Thatsummeditallup. Valancyhadtakensomeofhertwohundreddollarsoutofthebankandspentitinprettyclothes.Shehadalittlesmoke-bluechiffonwhichshealwaysputonwhentheyspenttheeveningathome—smoke-bluewithtouchesofsilveraboutit.ItwasaftershebeganwearingitthatBarneybegancallingherMoonlight. “Moonlightandbluetwilight—thatiswhatyoulooklikeinthatdress.Ilikeit.Itbelongstoyou.Youaren’texactlypretty,butyouhavesomeadorablebeauty-spots.Youreyes.Andthatlittlekissabledentjustbetweenyourcollarbones.Youhavethewristandankleofanaristocrat.Thatlittleheadofyoursisbeautifullyshaped.Andwhenyoulookbackwardoveryourshoulderyou’remaddening—especiallyintwilightormoonlight.Anelfmaiden.Awoodsprite.Youbelongtothewoods,Moonlight—youshouldneverbeoutofthem.Inspiteofyourancestry,thereissomethingwildandremoteanduntamedaboutyou.Andyouhavesuchanice,sweet,throaty,summeryvoice.Suchanicevoiceforlove-making.” “Shurean’ye’vekissedtheBlarneyStone,”scoffedValancy.Butshetastedthesecomplimentsforw