CHAPTER XLIV

ecil,youshouldexercisemore.Itdoesn’tdotogettoofleshy. “Healsoclaims,Ibelieve,tobeJohnFoster.Wecanbelievethatornot,aswelike,Isuppose. “OldDocRedfernhasgiventhemtwomillionsforawedding-present.EvidentlythePurplePillsbringinthebacon.They’regoingtospendthefallinItalyandthewinterinEgyptandmotorthroughNormandyinapple-blossomtime.NotinthatdreadfuloldLizzie,though.Redfernhasgotawonderfulnewcar. “Well,IthinkI’llrunaway,too,anddisgracemyself.Itseemstopay. “UncleBenisascream.LikewiseUncleJames.ThefusstheyallmakeoverDossnowisabsolutelysickening.TohearAuntAmeliatalkingof‘myson-in-law,BernardRedfern’and‘mydaughter,Mrs.BernardRedfern.’MotherandFatherareasbadastherest.Andtheycan’tseethatValancyisjustlaughingatthemallinhersleeve.”