CHAPTER XXX
關燈
小
中
大
eeks.
Shegotapalegreenbathing-suit,too—agarmentwhichwouldhavegivenherclantheirdeathsiftheyhadeverseenherinit.Barneytaughtherhowtoswim.Sometimessheputherbathing-dressonwhenshegotupanddidn’ttakeitoffuntilshewenttobed—runningdowntothewaterforaplungewhenevershefeltlikeitandsprawlingonthesun-warmrockstodry.
Shehadforgottenalltheoldhumiliatingthingsthatusedtocomeupagainstherinthenight—theinjusticesandthedisappointments.Itwasasiftheyhadallhappenedtosomeotherperson—nottoher,ValancySnaith,whohadalwaysbeenhappy.
“Iunderstandnowwhatitmeanstobebornagain,”shetoldBarney.
Holmesspeaksofgrief“stainingbackward”throughthepagesoflifebutValancyfoundherhappinesshadstainedbackwardlikewiseandfloodedwithrose-colourherwholepreviousdrabexistence.Shefoundithardtobelievethatshehadeverbeenlonelyandunhappyandafraid.
“Whendeathcomes,Ishallhavelived,”thoughtValancy.“Ishallhavehadmyhour.”
Andherdust-pile!
OnedayValancyhadheapedupthesandinthelittleislandcoveinatremendousconeandstuckagaylittleUnionJackontopofit.
“Whatareyoucelebrating?”Barneywantedtoknow.
“I’mjustexorcisinganolddemon,”Valancytoldhim.
