CHAPTER XXXII
關燈
小
中
大
tevendimrumoursofherhavingbeenoveratthePortcametotroublethem,thoughsheandBarneyusedtoskatethereoccasionallytoseeamovieandeathotdogsshamelesslyatthecornerstandafterwards.PresumablynoneoftheStirlingseverthoughtabouther—exceptCousinGeorgiana,whousedtolieawakeworryingaboutpoorDoss.Didshehaveenoughtoeat?Wasthatdreadfulcreaturegoodtoher?Wasshewarmenoughatnights?
Valancywasquitewarmatnights.Sheusedtowakeupandrevelsilentlyinthecosinessofthosewinternightsonthatlittleislandinthefrozenlake.Thenightsofotherwintershadbeensocoldandlong.Valancyhatedtowakeupinthemandthinkaboutthebleaknessandemptinessofthedaythathadpassedandthebleaknessandemptinessofthedaythatwouldcome.Now,shealmostcountedthatnightlostonwhichshedidn’twakeupandlieawakeforhalfanhourjustbeinghappy,whileBarney’sregularbreathingwentonbesideher,andthroughtheopendoorthesmoulderingbrandsinthefireplacewinkedatherinthegloom.ItwasverynicetofeelalittleLuckycatjumpuponyourbedinthedarknessandsnuggledownatyourfeet,purringbutBanjowouldbesittingdourlybyhimselfoutinfrontofthefirelikeabroodingdemon.AtsuchmomentsBanjowasanythingbutcanny,butValancylovedhisuncanniness.
Thesideofthebedhadtoberightagainstthewindow.Therewasnootherplaceforitinthetinyroom.Valancy,lyingthere,couldlookoutofthewindow,throughthebigpineboughsthatactuallytouchedit,awayupMistawis,whiteandlustrousasapavementofpear
