CHAPTER XXXVIII

pearingpropellerboatwassnuggled. “Doesyour—yourmanwanttocome,too?” “Who?Henry.Nothe.Lookathimsittingtheredisapproving.Disapprovesofthewholeexpedition.Thetrailupfromtheroadnearlygavehimaconniption.Well,itwasadevilishroadtoputacaron.Whoseoldbusisthatupthere?” “Barney’s.” “GoodLord!DoesBernieRedfernrideinathinglikethat?Itlookslikethegreat-great-grand-motherofalltheFords.” “Itisn’taFord.It’saGreySlosson,”saidValancyspiritedly.Forsomeoccultreason,Dr.Redfern’sgood-humouredridiculeofdearoldLadyJanestunghertolife.Alifethatwasallpainbutstilllife.Betterthanthehorriblehalf-dead-and-half-alivenessofthepastfewminutes—oryears.ShewavedDr.RedferncurtlyintotheboatandtookhimovertotheBlueCastle.Thekeywasstillintheoldpine—thehousestillsilentanddeserted.Valancytookthedoctorthroughtheliving-roomtothewesternverandah.Shemustatleastbeoutwheretherewasair.Itwasstillsunny,butinthesouthwestagreatthundercloud,withwhitecrestsandgorgesofpurpleshadow,wasslowlyrisingoverMistawis.Thedoctordroppedwithagasponarusticchairandmoppedhisbrowagain. “Warm,eh?Lord,whataview!WonderifitwouldsoftenHenryifhecouldseeit.” “Haveyouhaddinner?”askedValancy. “Yes,mydear—haditbeforeweleftPortLawrence.Didn’tknowwhatsortofwildhermit’shollowwewerecomingto,yousee.Hadn’tanyideaIwasgoingtofindanicelittledaughter-in-lawhereallreadytotossmeupameal.Cats,eh?Puss,puss!Seethat.Catsloveme.Berniewasalwaysfondofcats!It’sabouttheonlythinghetookfromme.He’shispoormother’sboy.” ValancyhadbeenthinkingidlythatBarneymustresemblehismother.Shehadremainedstandingbythesteps,butDr.Redfernwavedhertotheswingseat. “Sitdown,dear.Neverstandwhenyoucansit.IwanttogetagoodlookatBarney’swife.Well,well,Ilikeyourface.Nobeauty—youdon’tmindmysayingthat—you’vesenseenoughtoknowit,Ireckon.Sitdown.” Valancysatdown.Tobeobligedtositstillwhenmentalagonyurgesustostrideupanddownistherefinementoftorture.Everynerveinherbeingwascryingouttobealone—tobehidden.ButshehadtositandlistentoDr.Redfern,whodidn’tmindtalkingatall. “WhendoyouthinkBerniewillbeback?” “Idon’tknow—notbeforenightprobably.” “Wheredidhego?” “Idon’tknowthateither.Likelytothewoods—upback.” “Sohedoesn’ttellyouhiscomingsandgoings,either?Berniewasalwaysasecretiveyoungdevil.Neverunderstoodhim.Justlikehispoormother.ButIthoughtalotofhim.Ithurtmewhenhedisappearedashedid.Elevenyearsago.Ihaven’tseenmyboyforelevenyears.” “Elevenyears.”Valancywassurprised.“It’sonlysixsincehecamehere.” “Oh,hewasintheKlondikebeforethat—andallovertheworld.Heusedtodropmealinenowandthen—nevergiveanycluetowherehewasbutjustalinetosayhewasallright.Is’posehe’stoldyouallaboutit.” “No.Iknownothingofhispastlife,”saidValancywithsuddeneagerness.Shewantedtoknow—shemustknownow.Ithadn’tmatteredbefore.Nowshemustknowall.AndshecouldneverhearitfromBarney.Shemightneverevenseehimagain.Ifshedid,itwouldnotbetotalkofhispast. “Whathappened?Whydidheleavehishome?Tellme.Tellme.” “Well,itain’tmuchofastory.Justayoungfoolgonemadbecauseofaquarrelwithhisgirl.OnlyBerniewasastubbornfool.Alwaysstubborn.Youneve