CHAPTER XLII

Don’tyouknow——” “Iknowyouonlymarriedmeoutofpity,”saidValancy,brushinghimawayfeebly.“Iknowyoudon’tloveme—Iknow——” “You’vebeenlyingawakeatthreeo’clocktoolong,”saidBarney,shakingher.“That’sallthat’sthematterwithyou.Loveyou!Oh,don’tIloveyou!Mygirl,whenIsawthattraincomingdownonyouIknewwhetherIlovedyouornot!” “Oh,Iwasafraidyouwouldtrytomakemethinkyoucared,”criedValancypassionately.“Don’t—don’t!Iknow.IknowallaboutEthelTraverse—yourfathertoldmeeverything.Oh,Barney,don’ttortureme!Icannevergobacktoyou!” Barneyreleasedherandlookedatherforamoment.Somethinginherpallid,resolutefacespokemoreconvincinglythanwordsofherdetermination. “Valancy,”hesaidquietly,“Fathercouldn’thavetoldyoueverythingbecausehedidn’tknowit.Willyouletmetellyou—everything?” “Yes,”saidValancywearily.Oh,howdearhewas!Howshelongedtothrowherselfintohisarms!Asheputhergentlydowninachair,shecouldhavekissedtheslender,brownhandsthattouchedherarms.Shecouldnotlookupashestoodbeforeher.Shedarednotmeethiseyes.Forhissake,shemustbebrave.Sheknewhim—kind,unselfish.Ofcoursehewouldpretendhedidnotwanthisfreedom—shemighthaveknownhewouldpretendthat,oncethefirstshockofrealisationwasover.Hewassosorryforher—heunderstoodherterribleposition.Whenhadheeverfailedtounderstand?Butshewouldneveraccepthissacrifice.Never! “You’veseenDadandyouknowI’mBernardRedfern.AndIsupposeyou’veguessedthatI’mJohnFoster—sinceyouwentintoBluebeard’sChamber.” “Yes.ButIdidn’tgoinoutofcuriosity.Iforgotyouhadtoldmenottogoin—Iforgot——” “Nevermind.I’mnotgoingtokillyouandhangyouuponthewall,sothere’snoneedtocallforSisterAnne.I’monlygoingtotellyoumystoryfromthebeginning.Icamebacklastnightintendingtodoit.Yes,I’m‘oldDoc.Redfern’sson’—ofPurplePillsandBittersfame.Oh,don’tIknowit?Wasn’titrubbedintomeforyears?” Barneylaughedbitterlyandstrodeupanddowntheroomafewtimes.UncleBenjamin,tiptoeingthroughthehall,heardthelaughandfrowned.SurelyDosswasn’tgoingtobeastubbornlittlefool.BarneythrewhimselfintoachairbeforeValancy. “Yes.AslongasIcanrememberI’vebeenamillionaire’sson.ButwhenIwasbornDadwasn’tamillionaire.Hewasn’tevenadoctor—isn’tyet.Hewasaveterinaryandafailureatit.HeandMotherlivedinalittlevillageupinQuebecandwereabominablypoor.Idon’trememberMother.Haven’tevenapictureofher.ShediedwhenIwastwoyearsold.ShewasfifteenyearsyoungerthanFather—alittleschoolteacher.WhenshediedDadmovedintoMontrealandformedacompanytosellhishairtonic.He’ddreamedtheprescriptiononenight,itseems.Well,itcaughton.Moneybegantoflowin.Dadinvented—ordreamed—theotherthings,too—Pills,Bitters,Linimentandsoon.HewasamillionairebythetimeIwasten,withahousesobigasmallchaplikemyselfalwaysfeltlostinit.Ihadeverytoyaboycouldwish