CHAPTER XXXV
關燈
小
中
大
Thirtysecondscanbeverylongsometimes.Longenoughtoworkamiracleorarevolution.InthirtysecondslifechangedwhollyforBarneyandValancySnaith.
TheyhadgonearoundthelakeoneJuneeveningintheirdisappearingpropeller,fishedforanhourinalittlecreek,lefttheirboatthere,andwalkedupthroughthewoodstoPortLawrencetwomilesaway.Valancyprowledabitintheshopsandgotherselfanewpairofsensibleshoes.Heroldpairhadsuddenlyandcompletelygivenout,andthiseveningshehadbeencompelledtoputonthelittlefancypairofpatent-leatherwithratherhigh,slenderheels,whichshehadboughtinafitoffollyonedayinthewinterbecauseoftheirbeautyandbecauseshewantedtomakeonefoolish,extravagantpurchaseinherlife.ShesometimesputthemonofaneveningintheBlueCastle,butthiswasthefirsttimeshehadwornthemoutside.Shehadnotfounditanytooeasywalkingupthroughthewoodsinthem,andBarneyguyedherunmercifullyaboutthem.Butinspiteoftheinconvenience,Valancysecretlyratherlikedthelookofhertrimanklesandhighinstepabovethosepretty,foolishshoesanddidnotchangethemintheshopasshemighthavedone.
ThesunwashanginglowabovethepineswhentheyleftPortLawrence.Tothenorthofitthewoodsclosedaroundthetownquitesuddenly.Valancyalwayshadasenseofsteppingfromoneworldtoanother—fromrealitytofairyland—whe
