CHAPTER XL

n’tworryoverthat.” “Buthisclothes—andthatawfuloldcar—”saidMrs.Frederickuncertainly. “Eccentricitiesofgenius,”declaredUncleBenjamin.“YouheardDosssayhewasJohnFoster.I’mnotupinliteraturemyself,butIheardalecturerfromTorontosaythatJohnFoster’sbookshadputCanadaontheliterarymapoftheworld.” “I—suppose—wemustforgiveher,”yieldedMrs.Frederick. “Forgiveher!”UncleBenjaminsnorted.Really,Ameliawasanincrediblystupidwoman.NowonderpoorDosshadgonesickandtiredoflivingwithher.“Well,yes,Ithinkyou’dbetterforgiveher!Thequestionis—willSnaithforgiveus!” “Whatifshepersistsinleavinghim?You’venoideahowstubbornshecanbe,”saidMrs.Frederick. “Leaveitalltome,Amelia.Leaveitalltome.Youwomenhavemuddleditenough.Thiswholeaffairhasbeenbungledfromstarttofinish.Ifyouhadputyourselftoalittletroubleyearsago,Amelia,shewouldnothaveboltedoverthetracesasshedid.Justletheralone—don’tworryherwithadviceorquestionstillshe’sreadytotalk.She’sevidentlyrunawayinapanicbecauseshe’safraidhe’dbeangrywithherforfoolinghim.MostextraordinarythingofTrenttotellhersuchayarn!That’swhatcomesofgoingtostrangedoctors.Well,well,wemustn’tblamehertooharshly,poorchild.Redfernwillcomeafterher.Ifhedoesn’t,I’llhunthimupandtalktohimasmantoman.Hemaybeamillionaire,butValancyisaStirling.Hecan’trepudiateherjustbecauseshewasmistakenaboutherheartdisease.Notlikelyhe’llwantto.Dossisalittleoverstrung.Blessme,ImustgetinthehabitofcallingherValancy.Sheisn’tababyanylonger.Now,remember,Amelia.Beverykindandsympathetic.” ItwassomethingofalargeordertoexpectMrs.Fredericktobekindandsympathetic.Butshedidherbest.WhensupperwasreadyshewentupandaskedValancyifshewouldn’tlikeacupoftea.Valancy,lyingonherbed,declined.Shejustwantedtobeleftaloneforawhile.Mrs.Frederickleftheralone.ShedidnotevenremindValancythatherplightwastheoutcomeofherownlackofdaughterlyrespectandobedience.Onecouldnot—exactly—saythingslikethattothedaughter-in-lawofamillionaire.