CHAPTER XXXVII

upandwentawaysilently.Sheknewthattherewereagreatmanyhorriblethingsoutsidewaitingtobethoughtover.Dr.Trentthoughtshewasodd.Anybodywouldhavethought,fromherhopelesseyesandwoebegoneface,thathehadgivenherasentenceofdeathinsteadoflife.Snaith?Snaith?Whothedevilhadshemarried?HehadneverheardofSnaithsinDeerwood.Andshehadbeensuchasallow,faded,littleoldmaid.Gad,butmarriagehadmadeadifferenceinher,anyhow,whoeverSnaithwas.Snaith?Dr.Trentremembered.Thatrapscallion“upback!”HadValancyStirlingmarriedhim?Andherclanhadlether!Well,probablythatsolvedthemystery.Shehadmarriedinhasteandrepentedatleisure,andthatwaswhyshewasn’toverjoyedatlearningshewasagoodinsuranceprospect,afterall.Married!ToGodknewwhom!Orwhat!Jail-bird?Defaulter?Fugitivefromjustice?Itmustbeprettybadifshehadlookedtodeathasarelease,poorgirl.Butwhywerewomensuchfools?Dr.TrentdismissedValancyfromhismind,thoughtothedayofhisdeathhewasashamedofputtingthoselettersintothewrongenvelopes.