CHAPTER XXXII

NewYear.Theold,shabby,ingloriousoutlivedcalendarcamedown.Thenewonewentup.Januarywasamonthofstorms.Itsnowedforthreeweeksonend.Thethermometerwentmilesbelowzeroandstayedthere.But,asBarneyandValancypointedouttoeachother,therewerenomosquitoes.Andtheroarandcrackleoftheirbigfiredrownedthehowlsofthenorthwind.GoodLuckandBanjowaxedfatanddevelopedresplendentcoatsofthick,silkyfur.NipandTuckhadgone. “Butthey’llcomebackinspring,”promisedBarney. Therewasnomonotony.Sometimestheyhaddramaticlittleprivatespatsthatnevereventhoughtofbecomingquarrels.SometimesRoaringAbeldroppedin—foraneveningorawholeday—withhisoldtartancapandhislongredbeardcoatedwithsnow.Hegenerallybroughthisfiddleandplayedforthem,tothedelightofallexceptBanjo,whowouldgotemporarilyinsaneandretreatunderValancy’sbed.SometimesAbelandBarneytalkedwhileValancymadecandyforthemsometimestheysatandsmokedinsilenceàlaTennysonandCarlyle,untiltheBlueCastlereekedandValancyfledtotheopen.Sometimestheyplayedcheckersfiercelyandsilentlythewholenightthrough.SometimestheyallatetherussetapplesAbelhadbrought,whilethejollyoldclocktickedthedelightfulminutesaway. “Aplateofapples,anopenfire,and‘ajollygoodebookewhereontolooke’areafairsubstituteforheaven,”vowedBarney.“Anyonecanhavethestreetsofgold.Let’shaveanotherwhackatCarman.” ItwaseasiernowfortheStirlingstobelieveValancyofthedead.NotevendimrumoursofherhavingbeenoveratthePortcametotroublethem,thoughsheandBarneyusedtoskatethereoccasionallytoseeamovieandeathotdogsshamelesslyatthecornerstandafterwards.PresumablynoneoftheStirlingseverthoughtabouther—exceptCousinGeorgiana,whousedtolieawakeworryingaboutpoorDoss.Didshehaveenoughtoeat?Wasthatdreadfulcreaturegoodtoher?Wa