CHAPTER XXXII

sshewarmenoughatnights? Valancywasquitewarmatnights.Sheusedtowakeupandrevelsilentlyinthecosinessofthosewinternightsonthatlittleislandinthefrozenlake.Thenightsofotherwintershadbeensocoldandlong.Valancyhatedtowakeupinthemandthinkaboutthebleaknessandemptinessofthedaythathadpassedandthebleaknessandemptinessofthedaythatwouldcome.Now,shealmostcountedthatnightlostonwhichshedidn’twakeupandlieawakeforhalfanhourjustbeinghappy,whileBarney’sregularbreathingwentonbesideher,andthroughtheopendoorthesmoulderingbrandsinthefireplacewinkedatherinthegloom.ItwasverynicetofeelalittleLuckycatjumpuponyourbedinthedarknessandsnuggledownatyourfeet,purringbutBanjowouldbesittingdourlybyhimselfoutinfrontofthefirelikeabroodingdemon.AtsuchmomentsBanjowasanythingbutcanny,butValancylovedhisuncanniness. Thesideofthebedhadtoberightagainstthewindow.Therewasnootherplaceforitinthetinyroom.Valancy,lyingthere,couldlookoutofthewindow,throughthebigpineboughsthatactuallytouchedit,awayupMistawis,whiteandlustrousasapavementofpearl,ordarkandterribleinthestorm.Sometimesthepineboughstappedagainstthepaneswithfriendlysignals.Sometimessheheardthelittlehissingwhisperofsnowagainstthemrightatherside.SomenightsthewholeouterworldseemedgivenovertotheemperyofsilencethencamenightswhentherewouldbeamajesticsweepofwindinthepinesnightsofdearstarlightwhenitwhistledfreakishlyandjoyouslyaroundtheBlueCastlebroodingnightsbeforestormwhenitcreptalongthefloorofthelakewithalow,wailingcryofbodingandmystery.Valancywastedmanyperfectlygoodsleepinghoursinthesedelightfulcommunings.Butshecouldsleepaslonginthemorningasshewantedto.Nobodycared.BarneycookedhisownbreakfastofbaconandeggsandthenshuthimselfupinBluebeard’sChambe