CHAPTER XLII

ItwasnotuntilearlyafternoonthenextdaythatadreadfuloldcarclankedupElmStreetandstoppedinfrontofthebrickhouse.Ahatlessmansprangfromitandrushedupthesteps.Thebellwasrungasithadneverbeenrungbefore—vehemently,intensely.Theringerwasdemandingentrance,notaskingit.UncleBenjaminchuckledashehurriedtothedoor.UncleBenjaminhad“justdroppedin”toenquirehowdearDoss—Valancywas.DearDoss—Valancy,hehadbeeninformed,wasjustthesame.Shehadcomedownforbreakfast—whichshedidn’teat—gonebacktoherroom,comedownfordinner—whichshedidn’teat—gonebacktoherroom.Thatwasall.Shehadnottalked.Andshehadbeenlet,kindly,considerately,alone. “Verygood.Redfernwillbeheretoday,”saidUncleBenjamin.AndnowUncleBenjamin’sreputationasaprophetwasmade.Redfernwashere—unmistakablyso. “Ismywifehere?”hedemandedofUncleBenjaminwithoutpreface. UncleBenjaminsmiledexpressively. “Mr.Redfern,Ibelieve?Verygladtomeetyou,sir.Yes,thatnaughtylittlegirlofyoursishere.Wehavebeen——” “Imustseeher,”BarneycutUncleBenjaminruthlesslyshort. “Certainly,Mr.Redfern.Juststepinhere.Valancywillbedowninaminute.” HeusheredBarneyintotheparlourandbetookhimselftothesitting-roomandMrs.Frederick. “GoupandtellValancytocomedown.Herhusbandishere.” ButsodubiouswasUncleBenjaminastowhetherValancycouldreallycomedowninaminute—oratall—thathefollowedMrs.Frederickontiptoeupthestairsandlistenedinthehall. “Valancydear,”saidMrs.Fredericktenderly,“yourhusbandisintheparlour,askingforyou.” “Oh,Mother.”Valancygotupfromthewindowandwrungherhands.“Icannotseehim—Icannot!Tellhimtogoaway—askhimtogoaway.Ican’tseehim!” “Tellher,”hissedUncleBenjaminthroughthekeyhole,“thatRedfernsayshewon’tgoawayuntilhehasseenher.” Redfernhadnotsaidanythingofthekind,butUncleBenjaminthoughthewasthatsortofafellow.Valancyknewhewas.Sheunderstoodthatshemightaswellgodownfirstaslast. ShedidnotevenlookatUncleBenjaminasshepassedhimonthelanding.UncleBenjamindidnotmind.Rubbinghishandsandchuckling,heretreatedtothekitchen,wherehegeniallydemandedofCousinStickles: “Whyaregoodhusbandslikebread?” CousinSticklesaskedwhy. “Becausewomenneedthem,”beamedUncleBenjamin. Valancywaslookinganythingbutbeautifulwhensheenteredtheparlour.Herwhitenighthadplayedfearfulhavocwithherface.Sheworeanuglyoldbrown-and-bluegingham,havingleftallherprettydressesintheBlueCastle.ButBarneydashedacrosstheroomandcaughtherinhisarms. “Valancy,darling—oh,youdarlinglittleidiot!Whateverpossessedyoutorunawaylikethat?WhenIcamehomelastnightandfoundyourletterIwentquitemad.Itwastwelveo’clock—Iknewitwastoolatetocomeherethen.Iwalkedthefloorallnight.ThenthismorningDadcame—Icouldn’tgetawaytillnow.Valancy,whatevergotintoyou?Divorce,forsooth!