CHAPTER XXXII

rtillsuppertime.Thentheyhadaneveningofreadingandtalk.Theytalkedabouteverythinginthisworldandagoodmanythingsinotherworlds.TheylaughedovertheirownjokesuntiltheBlueCastlesre-echoed. “Youdolaughbeautifully,”Barneytoldheronce.“Itmakesmewanttolaughjusttohearyoulaugh.There’satrickaboutyourlaugh—asifthereweresomuchmorefunbackofitthatyouwouldn’tletout.DidyoulaughlikethatbeforeyoucametoMistawis,Moonlight?” “Ineverlaughedatall—really.IusedtogigglefoolishlywhenIfeltIwasexpectedto.Butnow—thelaughjustcomes.” ItstruckValancymorethanoncethatBarneyhimselflaughedagreatdealoftenerthanheusedtoandthathislaughhadchanged.Ithadbecomewholesome.Sherarelyheardthelittlecynicalnoteinitnow.Couldamanlaughlikethatwhohadcrimesonhisconscience?YetBarneymusthavedonesomething.Valancyhadindifferentlymadeuphermindastowhathehaddone.Sheconcludedhewasadefaultingbankcashier.ShehadfoundinoneofBarney’sbooksanoldclippingcutfromaMontrealpaperinwhichavanished,defaultingcashierwasdescribed.ThedescriptionappliedtoBarney—aswellastohalfadozenothermenValancyknew—andfromsomecasualremarkshehaddroppedfromtimetotimesheconcludedheknewMontrealratherwell.Valancyhaditallfiguredoutinthebackofhermind.Barneyhadbeeninabank.Hewastemptedtotakesomemoneytospeculate—meaning,ofcourse,toputitback.Hehadgotindeeperanddeeper,untilhefoundtherewasnothingforitbutflight.Ithadhappenedsotoscoresofmen.Hehad,Valancywasabsolutelycertain,nevermeanttodowrong.Ofcourse,thenameofthemanintheclippingwasBernardCraig.ButValancyhadalwaysthoughtSnaithwasanalias.Notthatitmattered. Valancyhadonlyoneunhappynightthatwinter.ItcameinlateMarchwhenmostofthesnowhadgoneandNipandTuckhadreturned.Barneyhadgoneoffintheafternoonf