CHAPTER XLI

remembereveryone,God!Letmeneverforgetoneofthem!” Yetitwouldbebettertoforget.Thisagonyoflongingandlonelinesswouldnotbesoterribleifonecouldforget.AndEthelTraverse.Thatshimmeringwitchwomanwithherwhiteskinandblackeyesandshininghair.ThewomanBarneyhadloved.Thewomanwhomhestillloved.Hadn’thetoldherheneverchangedhismind?WhowaswaitingforhiminMontreal.Whowastherightwifeforarichandfamousman.Barneywouldmarryher,ofcourse,whenhegothisdivorce.HowValancyhatedher!Andenviedher!Barneyhadsaid,“Iloveyou,”toher.ValancyhadwonderedwhattoneBarneywouldsay“Iloveyou”in—howhisdark-blueeyeswouldlookwhenhesaidit.EthelTraverseknew.Valancyhatedherfortheknowledge—hatedandenviedher. “ShecanneverhavethosehoursintheBlueCastle.Theyaremine,”thoughtValancysavagely.EthelwouldnevermakestrawberryjamordancetooldAbel’sfiddleorfrybaconforBarneyoveracamp-fire.ShewouldnevercometothelittleMistawisshackatall. WhatwasBarneydoing—thinking—feelingnow?Hadhecomehomeandfoundherletter?Washestillangrywithher?Oralittlepitiful.WashelyingontheirbedlookingoutonstormyMistawisandlisteningtotherainstreamingdownontheroof?Orwashestillwanderinginthewilderness,ragingatthepredicamentinwhichhefoundhimself?Hatingher?Paintookherandwrungherlikesomegreatpitilessgiant.Shegotupandwalkedthefloor.Wouldmorningnevercometoendthishideousnight?Andyetwhatcouldmorningbringher?Theoldlifewithouttheoldstagnationthatwasatleastbearable.Theoldlifewiththenewmemories,thenewlongings,thenewanguish. “Oh,whycan’tIdie?”moanedValancy.