CHAPTER XL

plaintruthwasthat,bythistime,Mrs.FrederickdidnotwantValancytocomeback—didnotwantevertoseeorhearofheragain. Andnow,ofcourse,Valancywashere.Withtragedyanddisgraceandscandaltrailingafterhervisibly.“SoIsee,”saidMrs.Frederick.“MayIaskwhy?” “Because—I’m—not—goingtodie,”saidValancyhuskily. “Godblessmysoul!”saidUncleBenjamin.“Whosaidyouweregoingtodie?” “Isuppose,”saidCousinSticklesshrewishly—CousinSticklesdidnotwantValancybackeither—“Isupposeyou’vefoundouthehasanotherwife—aswe’vebeensureallalong.” “No.Ionlywishhehad,”saidValancy.Shewasnotsufferingparticularly,butshewasverytired.Ifonlytheexplanationswerealloverandshewereupstairsinherold,uglyroom—alone.Justalone!Therattleofthebeadsonhermother’ssleeves,astheyswungonthearmsofthereedchair,almostdrovehercrazy.Nothingelsewasworryingherbutallatonceitseemedthatshesimplycouldnotendurethatthin,insistentrattle. “Myhome,asItoldyou,isalwaysopentoyou,”saidMrs.Frederickstonily,“butIcanneverforgiveyou.” Valancygaveamirthlesslaugh. “I’dcareverylittleforthatifIcouldonlyforgivemyself,”shesaid. “Come,come,”saidUncleBenjamintestily.Butratherenjoyinghimself.HefelthehadValancyunderhisthumbagain.“We’vehadenoughofmystery.Whathashappened?Whyhaveyouleftthatfellow?Nodoubtthere’sreasonenough—butwhatparticularreasonisit?” Valancybegantospeakmechanically.Shetoldhertalebluntlyandbarely. “AyearagoDr.TrenttoldmeIhadanginapectorisandcouldnotlivelong.Iwantedtohavesome—life—beforeIdied.That’swhyIwentaway.WhyImarriedBarney.AndnowI’vefounditisallamistake.Thereisnothingwrongwithmyheart.I’vegottolive—andBarneyonlymarriedmeoutofpity.SoIhavetoleavehim—free.” “Godblessme!”saidUncleBenjamin.CousinSticklesbegantocry. “Valancy,ifyou’donlyhadconfidenceinyourownmother——” “Yes,yes,Iknow,”saidValancyimpatiently.“What’stheuseofgoingintothatnow?Ican’tundothisyear.GodknowsIwishIcould.I’vetrickedBarneyintomarryingme—andhe’sreallyBernardRedfern.D