CHAPTER XXXIV

eyactuallylikedher.Shehadalwayshopedhedid,butsometimesshehadalittle,disagreeable,hauntingdreadthathewasjustkindandniceandchummyoutofpityknowingthatshehadn’tlongtoliveanddeterminedsheshouldhaveagoodtimeaslongasshedidlivebutawaybackinhismindratherlookingforwardtofreedomagain,withnointrusivewomancreatureinhisislandfastnessandnochatteringthingbesidehiminhiswoodlandprowls.Sheknewhecouldneverloveher.Shedidnotevenwanthimto.Ifhelovedherhewouldbeunhappywhenshedied—Valancyneverflinchedfromtheplainword.No“passingaway”forher.Andshedidnotwanthimtobetheleastunhappy.Butneitherdidshewanthimtobeglad—orrelieved.Shewantedhimtolikeherandmissherasagoodchum.Butshehadneverbeensureuntilthisnightthathedid. Theyhadwalkedoverthehillsinthesunset.Theyhadthedelightofdiscoveringavirginspringinafernyhollowandhaddrunktogetherfromitoutofabirch-barkcuptheyhadcometoanoldtumble-downrailfenceandsatonitforalongtime.Theydidn’ttalkmuch,butValancyhadacurioussenseofoneness.Sheknewthatshecouldn’thavefeltthatifhehadn’tlikedher. “Younicelittlething