CHAPTER XXXI

autumnstorms,followedbydank,wet,streamingnightswhentherewaswitch-laughterinthepinesandfitfulmoansamongthemainlandtrees.Whatcaredthey?OldTomhadbuilthisroofwell,andhischimneydrew. “Warmfire—books—comfort—safetyfromstorm—ourcatsontherug.Moonlight,”saidBarney,“wouldyoubeanyhappiernowifyouhadamilliondollars?” “No—norhalfsohappy.I’dbeboredbyconventionsandobligationsthen.” December.EarlysnowsandOrion.ThepalefiresoftheMilkyWay.Itwasreallywinternow—wonderful,cold,starrywinter.HowValancyhadalwayshatedwinter!Dull,brief,uneventfuldays.Long,cold,companionlessnights.CousinStickleswithherbackthathadtoberubbedcontinually.CousinSticklesmakingweirdnoisesgarglingherthroatinthemornings.CousinStickleswhiningoverthepriceofcoal.Hermother,probing,questioning,ignoring.Endlesscoldsandbronchitis—orthedreadofit.Redfern’sLinimentandPurplePills. Butnowshelovedwinter.Winterwasbeautiful“upback”—almostintolerablybeautiful.Daysofclearbrilliance.Eveningsthatwerelikecupsofglamour—thepurestvintageofwinter’swine.Nightswiththeirfireofstars.Cold,exquisitewintersunrises.LovelyfernsoficealloverthewindowsoftheBlueCastle.Moonlightonbirchesinasilverthaw.Raggedshadowsonwindyevenings—torn,twisted,fantasticshadows.Greatsilences,austereandsearching.Jewelled,barbarichills.Thesunsuddenlybreakingthroughgreycloudsoverlong,whiteMistawis.Icy-greytwilights,brokenbysnow-squalls,whentheircosyliving-room,withitsgoblinsoffirelightandinscrutablecatsseemedcosierthanever.Everyhourbroughtanewrevelationandwonder. BarneyranLadyJaneintoRoaringAbel’sbarnandtaughtValancyhowtosnowshoe—Valancy,whooughttobelaidupwithbronchitis.ButValancyhadnotevenacold.LateroninthewinterBarneyhadaterribleoneandValancynursedhimthroughitwithadreadofpneumoniainherheart.ButValancy’scoldsseemedtohavegonewhereoldmoonsgo.Whichwasluck—forshehadn’tevenRedfern’sLiniment.ShehadthoughtfullyboughtabottleatthePortandBarneyhadhurleditintofrozenMistawiswithascowl. “Bringnomoreofthatdevilishstuffhere,”hehadorderedbriefly.Itwasthefirstandlasttimehehadspokenharshlytoher. Th