CHAPTER XL

r.Redfern’sson,ofMontreal.Andhisfatherwantshimtogobacktohim.” UncleBenjaminmadeaqueersound.CousinSticklestookherblack-borderedhandkerchiefawayfromhereyesandstaredatValancy.AqueergleamsuddenlyshotintoMrs.Frederick’sstone-greyorbs. “Dr.Redfern—notthePurplePillman?”shesaid. Valancynodded.“He’sJohnFoster,too—thewriterofthosenaturebooks.” “But—but—”Mrs.Frederickwasvisiblyagitated,thoughnotoverthethoughtthatshewasthemother-in-lawofJohnFoster—“Dr.Redfernisamillionaire!” UncleBenjaminshuthismouthwithasnap. “Tentimesover,”hesaid. Valancynodded. “Yes.Barneylefthomeyearsago—becauseof—ofsometrouble—some—disappointment.Nowhewilllikelygoback.Soyousee—Ihadtocomehome.Hedoesn’tloveme.Ican’tholdhimtoabondhewastrickedinto.” UncleBenjaminlookedincrediblysly. “Didhesayso?Doeshewanttogetridofyou?” “No.Ihaven’tseenhimsinceIfoundout.ButItellyou—heonlymarriedmeoutofpity—becauseIaskedhimto—becausehethoughtitwouldonlybeforalittlewhile.” Mrs.FrederickandCousinSticklesbothtriedtospeak,butUncleBenjaminwavedahandatthemandfrownedportentously. “Letmehandlethis,”waveandfrownseemedtosay.ToValancy: “Well,well,dear,we’lltalkitalloverlater.Yousee,wedon’tquiteunderstandeverythingyet.AsCousinSticklessays,youshouldhaveconfidedinusbefore.Lateron—Idaresaywecanfindawayoutofthis.” “YouthinkBarneycaneasilygetadivorce,don’tyou?”saidValancyeagerly. UncleBenjaminsilencedwithanotherwavetheexclamationofhorrorheknewwastremblingonMrs.Frederick’slips. “Trusttome,Valancy.Everythingwillarrangeitself.Tellmethis,Dossie.Haveyoubeenhappyupback?WasSr.—Mr.Redferngoodtoyou?” “IhavebeenveryhappyandBarneywasverygoodtome,”saidValancy,asifrecitingalesson.Sherememberedwhenshestudiedgrammaratschoolshehaddislikedthepastandperfecttenses.Theyhadalwaysseemedsopathetic.“Ihavebeen”—itwasalloveranddonewith. “Thendon’tworry,littlegirl.”HowamazinglypaternalUncleBenjaminwas!“Yourfa