CHAPTER XXXI

hitelakesandpastthedarkislandswherethesummercottageswereclosedandsilent.TonighttheyflewdownMistawisbeforethewind,inanexhilarationthatcrimsonedValancy’scheeksunderherwhitetam.Andattheendwasherdearlittlehouse,ontheislandofpines,withacoatingofsnowonitsroof,sparklinginthemoonlight.Itswindowsglintedimpishlyatherinthestaygleams. “Looksexactlylikeapicture-book,doesn’tit?”saidBarney. TheyhadalovelyChristmas.Norush.Noscramble.Nonigglingattemptstomakeendsmeet.Nowildefforttorememberwhethershehadn’tgiventhesamekindofpresenttothesamepersontwoChristmasesbefore—nomoboflast-minuteshoppers—nodrearyfamily“reunions”whereshesatmuteandunimportant—noattacksof“nerves.”TheydecoratedtheBlueCastlewithpineboughs,andValancymadedelightfullittletinselstarsandhungthemupamidthegreenery.ShecookedadinnertowhichBarneydidfulljustice,whileGoodLuckandBanjopickedthebones. “Alandthatcanproduceagooselikethatisanadmirableland,”vowedBarney.“Canadaforever!”AndtheydranktotheUnionJackabottleofdandelionwinethatCousinGeorgianahadgivenValancyalongwiththebedspread. “Oneneverknows,”CousinGeorgianahadsaidsolemnly,“whenonemayneedalittlestimulant.” BarneyhadaskedValancywhatshewantedforaChristmaspresent. “Somethingfrivolousandunnecessary,”saidValancy,whohadgotapairofgolosheslastChristmasandtwolong-sleeved,woolenunderveststheyearbefore.Andsoonback. Toherdelight,Barneygaveheranecklaceofpearlbeads.Valancyhadwantedastringofmilkypearlbeads—likecongealedmoonshine—allherlife.Andtheseweresopretty.Allthatworriedherwasthattheywerereallytoogood.Theymusthavecostagreatdeal—fifteendollars,atleast.CouldBarneyaffordthat?Shedidn’tknowathingabouthisfinances.Shehadrefusedtolethimbuyanyofherclothes—shehadenoughforthat,shetoldhim,aslongasshewouldneedclothes.Inaround,blackjaronthechimney-pieceBarneyputmoneyfortheirhouseholdexpenses—alwaysenough.Thejarwasneverempty,thoughValancynevercaughthimreplenishingit.Hecouldn’thavemuch,ofcourse,andthatnecklace—butValancytossedcareaside.Shewouldwearitandenjoyit.Itwasthefirstprettythingshehadeverhad.