CHAPTER XXXV

encewasveryeloquent.Hadthesamethoughtoccurredtohim?Didhesuddenlyfindhimselfconfrontedbytheappallingsuspicionthathewasmarried,notforafewmonthsorayear,butforgoodandalltoawomanhedidnotloveandwhohadfoistedherselfuponhimbysometrickorlie?Valancyturnedsickbeforethehorrorofit.Itcouldnotbe.Itwouldbetoocruel—toodevilish.Dr.Trentcouldn’thavemadeamistake.Impossible.HewasoneofthebestheartspecialistsinOntario.Shewasfoolish—unnervedbytherecenthorror.Sherememberedsomeofthehideousspasmsofpainshehadhad.Theremustbesomethingseriousthematterwithherhearttoaccountforthem. Butshehadnothadanyfornearlythreemonths. Why? PresentlyBarneybestirredhimself.Hestoodup,withoutlookingatValancy,andsaidcasually: “Isupposewe’dbetterbehikingback.Sun’sgettinglow.Areyougoodfortherestoftheroad?” “Ithinkso,”saidValancymiserably. Barneywentacrosstheclearingandpickeduptheparcelhehaddropped—theparcelcontaininghernewshoes.Hebroughtittoherandlethertakeouttheshoesandputthemonwithoutanyassistance,whilehestoodwithhisbacktoherandlookedoutoverthepines. Theywalkedinsilencedowntheshadowytrailtothelake.InsilenceBarneysteeredhisboatintothesunsetmiraclethatwasMistawis.Insilencetheywentaroundfeatheryheadlandsandacrosscoralbaysandsilverriverswherecanoeswereslippingupanddownintheafterglow.Insilencetheywentpastcottagesechoingwithmusicandlaughter.Insilencedrewupatthelanding-placebelowtheBlueCastle. Valancywentuptherockstepsandintothehouse.Shedroppedmiserablyonthefirstchairshecametoandsattherestaringthroughtheoriel,obliviousofGoodLuck’sfranticpurrsofjoyandBanjo’ssavageglaresofprotestatheroccupancyofhischair. Barneycameinafewminuteslater.Hedidnotcomenearher,buthestoodbehindherandaskedgentlyifshefeltanytheworseforherexperience.Valancywouldhavegivenheryearofhappinesstohavebeenablehonestlytoanswer“Yes.” “No,”shesaidflatly. BarneywentintoBluebeard’sChamberandshutthedoor.Sheheardhimpacingupanddown—upanddown.Hehadneverpacedlikethatbefore. Andanhourago—onlyanhourago—shehadbeensohappy!