CHAPTER XXXV
關燈
小
中
大
handasterribleexcitementasmostpeopleexperienceinalifetime,crowdedintothatendlessthirtyseconds.Yetshehadnotdiedofit.Shewasnotaniotatheworseforit.Alittlewobblyattheknees,asanyonewouldhavebeenaquickerheart-beat,asanyonewouldhavenothingmore.
Why!
WasitpossibleDr.Trenthadmadeamistake?
Valancyshiveredasifacoldwindhadsuddenlychilledhertothesoul.ShelookedatBarney,hunchedupbesideher.Hissilencewasveryeloquent.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,”s
