CHAPTER XXXV

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—whenshewentoutofPortLawrenceandinatwinklingfounditshutoffbehindherbythearmiesofthepines. AmileandahalffromPortLawrencetherewasasmallrailroadstationwithalittlestation-housewhichatthishourofthedaywasdeserted,sincenolocaltrainwasdue.NotasoulwasinsightwhenBarneyandValancyemergedfromthewoods.Offtotheleftasuddencurveinthetrackhiditfromview,butoverthetree-topsbeyond,thelongplumeofsmokebetokenedtheapproachofathroughtrain.TherailswerevibratingtoitsthunderasBarneysteppedacrosstheswitch.Valancywasafewstepsbehindhim,loiteringtogatherJune-bellsalongthelittle,windingpath.Buttherewasplentyoftimetogetacrossbeforethetraincame.Shesteppedunconcernedlyoverthefirstrail. Shecouldnevertellhowithappened.Theensuingthirtysecondsalwaysseemedinherrecollectionlikeachaoticnightmareinwhichsheenduredtheagonyofathous