CHAPTER XXXIV

ndsofbeauty.YourimaginationisobsessedbytheveryobvioustypeofyourcousinOlive.Oh,I’veseenher—she’sastunner—butyou’dnevercatchAllanTierneywantingtopainther.Inthehorriblebutexpressiveslangphrase,shekeepsallhergoodsintheshop-window.Butinyoursubconsciousmindyouhaveaconvictionthatnobodycanbebeautifulwhodoesn’tlooklikeOlive.Also,yourememberyourfaceasitwasinthedayswhenyoursoulwasnotallowedtoshinethroughit.Tierneysaidsomethingaboutthecurveofyourcheekasyoulookedbackoveryourshoulder.YouknowI’veoftentoldyouitwasdistracting.Andhe’squitebattyaboutyoureyes.IfIwasn’tabsolutelysureitwassolelyprofessional—he’sreallyacrabbedoldbachelor,youknow—I’dbejealous.” “Well,Idon’twanttobepainted,”saidValancy.“Ihopeyoutoldhimthat.” “Icouldn’ttellhimthat.Ididn’tknowwhatyouwanted.ButItoldhimIdidn’twantmywifepainted—hungupinasalonforthemobtostareat.Belongingtoanotherman.ForofcourseIcouldn’tbuythepicture.Soevenifyouhadwantedtobepainted,Moonlight,yourtyrannoushusbandwouldnothavepermittedit.Tierneywasabitsquiffy.Heisn’tusedtobeingturneddownlikethat.Hisrequestsarealmostlikeroyalty’s.” “Butweareoutlaws,”laughedValancy.“Webowtonodecrees—weacknowledgenosovereignty.” Inherheartshethoughtunashamedly: “IwishOlivecouldknowthatAllanTierneywantedtopaintme.Me!Little-old-maid-Valancy-Stirling-that-was.” Hersecondwonder-momentcameoneeveninginMay.SherealisedthatBarneyactuallylikedher.Shehadalwayshopedhedid,butsometimesshehadalittle,disagreeable,hauntingdreadthathewasjustkindandniceandchummyoutofpityknowingthatshehadn’tlongtoliveanddeterminedsheshouldhaveagoodtimeaslongasshedidlivebutawaybackinhismindratherlookingforwardtofreedomagain,withnointrusivewomancreatureinhisislandfastnessandnochatteringthingbe