×

Select Store

Dowload from Google Play Dowload from the App Store

Scan with Camera

Dowload via QR Code
The Blue Castle | Progressive Translation Books for Croatian A1-B2 Learners

The Blue Castle | Progressive Translation Books for Croatian A1-B2 Learners

Embrace the benefits of this cutting-edge translation method, offering a tailored learning experience by letting you select the difficulty level that fits you best. It improves your comprehension by urging you to deduce meanings from context, reducing the need for constant translation. While some translations are intentionally masked to encourage guessing, it's always acceptable to check unfamiliar words. This method strikes the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility, making language learning both effective and enjoyable. Immerse yourself in these translated classics and uncover the pleasure of learning through literary exploration.

CHAPTERI
IfithadnotrainedonacertainMay
jutra
morningValancyStirling’swholelifewouldhavebeen
potpuno
entirelydifferent.
Shewouldhavegone,
sa
withtherestofherclan,toAuntWellington’s
zaručnički
engagementpicnicandDr.TrentwouldhavegonetoMontreal.
Ali
Butitdidrainandyoushall
čuti
hearwhathappenedtoherbecauseofit.
Valancywakened
rano
early,inthelifeless,hopeless
satu
hourjustprecedingdawn.
Shehadnotsleptvery
dobro
well.
Onedoesnotsleep
dobro
well,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,
i
andunmarried,inacommunity
i
andconnectionwheretheunmarriedare
jednostavno
simplythosewhohavefailedto
dobiti
getaman.
DeerwoodandtheStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancyto
beznadno
hopelessoldmaidenhood.
ButValancyherselfhadneverquiterelinquished
je
acertainpitiful,shamed,little
nade
hopethatRomancewouldcomeher
putu
wayyet—never,untilthiswet,horrible
jutra
morning,whenshewakenedto
na
thefactthatshewastwenty-nine
i
andunsoughtbyanyman.
Ay,
tu
therelaythesting.
Valancydidnotmindsomuchbeingan
stara
oldmaid.
Afterall,shethought,beingan
stara
oldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeas
strašno
dreadfulasbeingmarriedtoan
Ujaka
UncleWellingtonoranUncleBenjamin,
ili
orevenanUncleHerbert.
Whathurtherwasthatshehadneverhad
je
achancetobeanythingbutan
stara
oldmaid.
Nomanhadeverdesiredher.
Thetearscameintohereyesasshelaythere
sama
aloneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.
Shedarednotletherselfcryashardasshewanted
da
to,fortworeasons.
Shewas
bojala
afraidthatcryingmightbringonanotherattackof
da
thatpainaroundtheheart.
Shehadhad
je
aspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—rather
gora
worsethananyshehadhad
još
yet.
Andshewasafraidher
majka
motherwouldnoticeherredeyesatbreakfast
i
andkeepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.
“Suppose,”thoughtValancy
s
withaghastlygrin,“Ianswered
s
withtheplaintruth,‘Iamcrying
jer
becauseIcannotgetmarried.’
Kako
HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheis
stidi
ashamedeverydayofherlifeofher
stare
oldmaiddaughter.”
Butof
naravno
courseappearancesshouldbekeptup.
“Itisnot,”Valancycould
čuti
hearhermother’sprim,dictatorial
glas
voiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlyto
razmišljati
thinkaboutmen.”
Thethoughtofhermother’s
izraz
expressionmadeValancylaugh—forshehad
je
asenseofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.
For
koje
thatmatter,therewereagood
mnogo
manythingsaboutValancythat
nitko
nobodysuspected.
Butherlaughterwas
vrlo
verysuperficialandpresentlyshelay
tamo
there,ahuddled,futilelittle
figura
figure,listeningtotherainpouringdown
vani
outsideandwatching,withasickdistaste,thechill,merciless
svjetlo
lightcreepingintoherugly,sordid
sobu
room.
Sheknewtheuglinessofthatroombyheart—knewit
i
andhatedit.
Theyellow-paintedfloor,
sa
withonehideous,“hooked”rugbythebed,
sa
withagrotesque,“hooked”dogonit,
uvijek
alwaysgrinningatherwhensheawoke;
thefaded,dark-red
papir
paper;
theceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaks
i
andcrossedbycracks;
thenarrow,pinched
mali
littlewashstand;
thebrown-paperlambrequin
s
withpurplerosesonit;
thespotted
stari
oldlooking-glasswiththecrack
preko
acrossit,proppedupontheinadequatedressing-table;
thejarofancientpotpourrimadebyher
majke
motherinhermythicalhoneymoon;
theshell-covered
kutija
box,withoneburstcorner,whichCousinStickleshadmadeinher
jednako
equallymythicalgirlhood;
thebeadedpincushion
s
withhalfitsbeadfringegone;
the
jedna
onestiff,yellowchair;
thefaded
stari
oldmotto,“Gonebutnotforgotten,”workedincolouredyarns
o
aboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrimoldface;
the
stare
oldphotographsofancientrelativeslongbanishedfromtherooms
ispod
below.
Therewereonlytwopictures
koje
thatwerenotofrelatives.
One,an
stari
oldchromoofapuppysittingonarainy
pragu
doorstep.
ThatpicturealwaysmadeValancyunhappy.
Taj
Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedonthe
pragu
doorstepinthedrivingrain!
Zašto
Whydidn’tsomeoneopenthedoor
i
andlethimin?
The
druga
otherpicturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingofQueenLouisecoming
niz
downastairway,whichAuntWellingtonhadlavishlygivenheronher
deseti
tenthbirthday.
Fornineteenyearsshehadlookedatit
i
andhatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfiedQueenLouise.
Ali
Butsheneverdareddestroyit
ili
orremoveit.
Motherand
Rođak
CousinStickleswouldhavebeenaghast,
ili
or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,wouldhavehad
je
afit.
Everyroominthe
kući
housewasugly,ofcourse.
Ali
Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.
Therewasno
novca
moneyforroomsnobodyeversaw.
Valancy
ponekad
sometimesfeltthatshecouldhavedone
nešto
somethingforherroomherself,
čak
evenwithoutmoney,ifshewerepermitted.
Ali
Buthermotherhadnegatived
svaki
everytimidsuggestionandValancydidnotpersist.
Valancyneverpersisted.
Shewas
bojala
afraidto.
Hermothercouldnotbrook
protivljenje
opposition.
Mrs.Stirlingwouldsulkfordays
ako
ifoffended,withtheairsofaninsultedduchess.
The
jedina
onlythingValancylikedabouther
sobi
roomwasthatshecouldbe
sama
alonethereatnightto
plakati
cryifshewantedto.
Ali
But,afterall,whatdiditmatter
ako
ifaroom,whichyouusedfor
ništa
nothingexceptsleepinganddressingin,were
ružna
ugly?
Valancywasneverpermittedtostay
sama
aloneinherroomfor
bilo
anyotherpurpose.
Peoplewhowantedtobe
sami
alone,soMrs.FrederickStirling
i
andCousinSticklesbelieved,could
samo
onlywanttobealonefor
neke
somesinisterpurpose.
Buther
soba
roomintheBlueCastlewas
sve
everythingaroomshouldbe.
Valancy,socowed
i
andsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedin
stvarnom
reallife,waswonttoletherselfgo
prilično
rathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.
Nitko
NobodyintheStirlingclan,
ili
oritsramifications,suspectedthis,leastofallher
majka
motherandCousinStickles.
They
nikada
neverknewthatValancyhad
dvije
twohomes—theuglyredbrickboxof
je
ahome,onElmStreet,
i
andtheBlueCastleinSpain.
ValancyhadlivedspirituallyintheBlueCastleever
otkad
sinceshecouldremember.
Shehadbeen
je
averytinychildwhenshefoundherselfpossessedofit.
Uvijek
Always,whensheshuthereyes,shecouldseeit
jasno
plainly,withitsturretsandbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinitsfaint,blueloveliness,againstthesunsetskiesof
je
afairandunknownland.
Sve
Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatcastle.
Jewels
koje
thatqueensmighthaveworn;
robesofmoonlight
i
andfire;
couchesofroses
i
andgold;
longflightsofshallowmarblesteps,withgreat,whiteurns,
i
andwithslender,mist-cladmaidensgoing
gore
upanddownthem;
courts,marble-pillared,
gdje
whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingalessang
među
amongthemyrtles;
hallsofmirrors
koja
thatreflectedonlyhandsomeknights
i
andlovelywomen—herselftheloveliestof
svih
all,forwhoseglancemendied.
Sve
Allthatsupportedherthroughtheboredomofherdayswasthe
nada
hopeofgoingona
sanjati
dreamspreeatnight.
Most,
ako
ifnotall,oftheStirlingswouldhavediedof
užasa
horroriftheyhadknown
pola
halfthethingsValancydidinherBlueCastle.
For
jednu
onethingshehadquite
je
afewloversinit.
Oh,
samo
onlyoneatatime.
One
koji
whowooedherwithalltheromanticardourofthe
doba
ageofchivalryandwonher
nakon
afterlongdevotionandmanydeedsofderring-do,
i
andwasweddedtoherwithpomp
i
andcircumstanceinthegreat,banner-hungchapeloftheBlue
Dvorca
Castle.
Attwelve,thisloverwas
je
afairladwithgoldencurls
i
andheavenlyblueeyes.
Atfifteen,hewas
visok
tallanddarkandpale,
ali
butstillnecessarilyhandsome.
Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,
duhovni
spiritual.
Attwenty-five,hehad
je
aclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,and
je
afacestrongandruggedratherthanhandsome.
Valancynevergrewolder
od
thantwenty-fiveinherBlueCastle,
ali
butrecently—veryrecently—herherohadhadreddish,tawny
kosu
hair,atwistedsmileand
je
amysteriouspast.
Idon’t
kažem
sayValancydeliberatelymurderedtheseloversassheoutgrew
ih
them.
Onesimplyfadedawayas
drugi
anothercame.
ThingsareveryconvenientinthisrespectinBlueCastles.
Ali
But,onthismorningofher
dana
dayoffate,Valancycouldnot
naći
findthekeyofherBlue
Dvorca
Castle.
Realitypressedonher
previše
toohardly,barkingatherheels
kao
likeamaddeninglittledog.
Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—the
jedina
onlyhomelygirlinahandsomeclan,with
bez
nopastandnofuture.
Asfarasshecouldlookback,
život
lifewasdrabandcolourless,withnotonesinglecrimson
ili
orpurplespotanywhere.
Asfarasshecouldlook
naprijed
forwarditseemedcertaintobe
baš
justthesameuntilshewas
ništa
nothingbutasolitary,littlewithered
list
leafclingingtoawintrybough.
The
trenutak
momentwhenawomanrealisesthatshehas
ništa
nothingtolivefor—neitherlove,duty,
svrhe
purposenorhope—holdsforherthebitternessof
smrti
death.
“AndIjusthavetogoonliving
jer
becauseIcan’tstop.
I
možda
mayhavetoliveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,in
je
akindofpanic.
“We’re
svi
allhorriblylong-lived.
Itsickensmetothinkofit.”
Shewasgladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfiedthatitwasraining.
Therewouldbenopicnicthat
dana
day.
Thisannualpicnic,whereby
Tetka
AuntandUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtoftheminthatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementat
je
apicnicthirtyyearsbefore,hadbeen,oflateyears,
je
averitablenightmaretoValancy.
Byanimpishcoincidenceitwasthe
isti
samedayasherbirthday
i
and,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,
nitko
nobodyletherforgetit.
Muchasshehatedgoingto
na
thepicnic,itwouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebel
protiv
againstit.
Thereseemedtobe
ništa
nothingoftherevolutionaryinhernature.
I
Andsheknewexactlywhateveryonewould
reći
saytoheratthepicnic.
Ujak
UncleWellington,whomshedisliked
i
anddespisedeventhoughhehadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”wouldsaytoherin
je
apig’swhisper,“Notthinkingofgetting
braku
marriedyet,mydear?”
andthen
otići
gooffintothebellowoflaughter
s
withwhichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.
Teta
AuntWellington,ofwhomValancystoodinabjectawe,wouldtellher
o
aboutOlive’snewchiffondress
i
andCecil’slastdevotedletter.
Valancywould
su
havetolookaspleased
i
andinterestedasifthe
haljina
dressandletterhadbeenhersorelse
Teta
AuntWellingtonwouldbeoffended.
A
AndValancyhadlongagodecided
da
thatshewouldratheroffendGod
nego
thanAuntWellington,becauseGodmightforgiveher
ali
butAuntWellingtonneverwould.
Teta
AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,withanamiablehabitof
uvijek
alwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifheweretheonlymale
stvorenje
creatureintheworld,whocould
nikada
neverforgetthatshehadbeen
je
agreatbeautyinheryouth,wouldcondole
s
withValancyonhersallow
koži
skin—.
“Idon’tknowwhy
sve
allthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.
Kad
WhenIwasagirlmy
koža
skinwasrosesandcream.
Iwascountedtheprettiest
djevojka
girlinCanada,mydear.”
Možda
PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—or
možda
perhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howfatyou’regetting,Doss!”
I
Andtheneverybodywouldlaughovertheexcessivelyhumorousideaof
jadni
poor,scrawnylittleDossgettingfat.
Zgodan
Handsome,solemnUncleJames,whomValancydisliked
ali
butrespectedbecausehewasreputedtobe
vrlo
verycleverandwasthereforethe
klan
clanoracle—brainsbeingnonetoo
obilan
plentifulintheStirlingconnection—would
vjerojatno
probablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthathadwonhimhis
reputaciju
reputation,“Isupposeyou’rebusy
sa
withyourhope-chestthesedays?”
And
Ujak
UncleBenjaminwouldasksomeofhis
odvratnih
abominableconundrums,betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.
“Whatisthe
razlika
differencebetweenDossanda
miša
mouse?
“Themousewishesto
naškoditi
harmthecheeseandDosswishestocharmthehe’s.”
Valancyhadheardhim
pitati
askthatriddlefiftytimes
i
andeverytimeshewantedto
baciti
throwsomethingathim.
Butsheneverdid.
In
na
thefirstplace,theStirlings
jednostavno
simplydidnotthrowthings;
inthesecondplace,
Ujak
UncleBenjaminwasawealthyandchildlessoldwidowerandValancyhadbeenbroughtupinthefearandadmonitionofhis
novca
money.
Ifsheoffendedhimhewouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.
Valancydidnotwanttobecutoutof
Ujaka
UncleBenjamin’swill.
Shehadbeenpoorallher
život
lifeandknewthegallingbitternessof
to
it.
Sosheenduredhisriddles
i
andevensmiledtorturedlittlesmiles
nad
overthem.
AuntIsabel,downright
i
anddisagreeableasaneast
vjetar
wind,wouldcriticiseherin
neki
someway—Valancycouldnotpredictjust
kako
how,forAuntIsabelneverrepeated
je
acriticism—shefoundsomethingnew
s
withwhichtojabyou
svaki
everytime.
AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,
ali
butdidn’tlikeitsowell
kad
whenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughtto
joj
her.
Valancyneversaidwhatshethought.
CousinGeorgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamedafterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesof
svih
allrelativesandfriendswhohaddiedsincethelastpicnicandwonder“whichofus
će
willbethefirstto
ići
gonext.”
Oppressivelycompetent,AuntMildredwouldtalkendlesslyofher
mužu
husbandandherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,
jer
becauseValancywouldbethe
jedini
onlyoneshecouldfindtoputupwith
to
it.
Forthesamereason,CousinGladys—really
Prva
FirstCousinGladysonceremoved,
prema
accordingtothestrictwayinwhich
na
theStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thin
dama
ladywhoadmittedshehad
je
asensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutely
na
thetorturesofherneuritis.
AndOlive,thewonder
djevojka
girlofthewholeStirlingclan,whohad
sve
everythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—wouldshowoffherbeautyandpresumeonher
popularnost
popularityandflauntherdiamondinsigniaof
ljubav
loveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.
Therewouldbenoneofallthis
danas
today.
Andtherewouldbe
ne
nopackingupofteaspoons.
Thepackingupwas
uvijek
alwaysleftforValancyandCousinStickles.
A
Andonce,sixyearsago,
je
asilverteaspoonfromAuntWellington’sweddingsethadbeenlost.
Valancyneverheardthelastofthatsilverteaspoon.
Its
duh
ghostappearedBanquo-likeateverysubsequentfamilyfeast.
Oh,yes,Valancyknew
točno
exactlywhatthepicnicwouldbelike
i
andsheblessedtherainthathadsavedherfromit.
Therewouldbenopicnicthis
godine
year.
IfAuntWellingtoncouldnot
slaviti
celebrateonthesacreddayitselfshewouldhave
ne
nocelebrationatall.
Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.
Budući
Sincetherewouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermindthat,
ako
iftherainheldupinthe
popodne
afternoon,shewouldgouptothelibrary
i
andgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.
Valancywasneverallowedtoreadnovels,
ali
butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.
Theywere“naturebooks”—sothe
knjižničar
librariantoldMrs.FrederickStirling—“all
o
aboutthewoodsandbirds
i
andbugsandthingslike
to
that,youknow.”
SoValancywasallowedtoreadthem—underprotest,foritwasonly
previše
tooevidentthatsheenjoyedthem
previše
toomuch.
Itwaspermissible,
čak
evenlaudable,toreadtoimproveyour
um
mindandyourreligion,but
je
abookthatwasenjoyablewasdangerous.
Valancydidnotknow
li
whetherhermindwasbeingimproved
ili
ornot;
butshefelt
nejasno
vaguelythatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyears
prije
agolifemighthavebeen
je
adifferentthingforher.
Theyseemedtohertoyieldglimpsesof
je
aworldintowhichshemight
jednom
oncehaveentered,thoughthe
vrata
doorwasforeverbarredtoher
sada
now.
Itwasonlywithinthelastyear
da
thatJohnFoster’sbookshadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,
iako
thoughthelibrariantoldValancy
da
thathehadbeenawell-known
pisac
writerforseveralyears.
“Wheredoeshelive?”
Valancyhadasked.
“Nobodyknows.
Fromhisbookshe
mora
mustbeaCanadian,but
nema
nomoreinformationcanbehad.
Hispublisherswon’t
reći
sayaword.
QuitelikelyJohn
Foster
Fosterisanomdeplume.
Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’t
zadržati
keeptheminatall,
iako
thoughIreallycan’tseewhat
ljudi
peoplefindinthemto
rave
raveover.”
“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.
“Oh—well—”
MissClarksonsmiledin
je
apatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’t
reći
sayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.
Ali
ButcertainlyFosterseemsto
znati
knowallthereisto
znati
knowaboutthem.”
Valancydidn’tknow
li
whethershecaredmuchforbugseither.
ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeofwildcreatures
i
andinsectlifethatenthralledher.
Shecould
jedva
hardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalising
mamac
lureofamysteryneverrevealed—some
nagovještaj
hintofagreatsecret
samo
justalittlefurtheron—some
slab
faint,elusiveechooflovely,forgottenthings—JohnFoster’s
čarolija
magicwasindefinable.
Yes,shewouldgetanewFosterbook.
Itwas
je
amonthsinceshehadThistle
Žetvu
Harvest,sosurelyMothercouldnotobject.
Valancyhadreadit
četiri
fourtimes—sheknewwholepassagesoffbyheart.
And—she
skoro
almostthoughtshewouldgoandseeDr.Trentabout
da
thatqueerpainaroundthe
srca
heart.
Ithadcomerather
često
oftenlately,andthepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,nottospeakofanoccasional
vrtoglavicu
dizzymomentandaqueershortnessof
dah
breath.
Butcouldshegoto
vidi
seehimwithouttellinganyone?
Itwas
je
amostdaringthought.
NoneoftheStirlingseverconsultedadoctor
bez
withoutholdingafamilycouncil
i
andgettingUncleJames’approval.
Then,theywenttoDr.Ambrose
Marsh
MarshofPortLawrence,whohad
oženio
marriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.
Ali
ButValancydislikedDr.Ambrose
Marsh
Marsh.
And,besides,shecouldnot
doći
gettoPortLawrence,fifteenmiles
daleko
away,withoutbeingtakenthere.
Shedidnotwantanyonetoknowabouther
srce
heart.
Therewouldbesuch
je
afussmadeandevery
član
memberofthefamilywouldcomedown
i
andtalkitoverandadviseher
i
andcautionherandwarnher
i
andtellherhorribletalesofgreat-aunts
i
andcousinsfortytimesremovedwhohadbeen“justlikethat”
i
and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’swarning,mydear.”
Teta
AuntIsabelwouldrememberthatshehad
uvijek
alwayssaidDosslookedlike
je
agirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinched
i
andpeakedalways”;
andUncleWellingtonwouldtakeitasapersonalinsult,
kada
when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;
a
andGeorgianawouldforebodein
savršeno
perfectlyaudibleasidesthat“poor,
dragi
dearlittleDossisn’tlongfor
ovom
thisworld,I’mafraid”;
andCousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,my
srce
hearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”in
je
atonethatimpliednooneelsehad
bilo
anybusinesseventohave
je
aheart;
andOlive—Olivewould
samo
merelylookbeautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyhealthy,asiftosay,“Whyall
ovaj
thisfussoverafadedsuperfluitylikeDoss
kad
whenyouhaveme?”
Valancyfeltthatshecouldn’t
reći
tellanybodyunlessshehadto.
Shefelt
sasvim
quitesuretherewasnothingat
svim
allseriouslywrongwithherheart
i
andnoneedofallthepotherthatwouldensue
ako
ifshementionedit.
Shewould
samo
justslipupquietlyand
vidjeti
seeDr.Trentthatvery
dan
day.
Asforhisbill,shehad
na
thetwohundreddollarsthather
otac
fatherhadputinthe
banku
bankforherthedayshewasborn.
Shewasneverallowedtouseeventheinterestofthis,
ali
butshewouldsecretlytakeout
dovoljno
enoughtopayDr.Trent.
Dr.
Trentwas
je
agruff,outspoken,absent-mindedold
momak
fellow,buthewasarecognised
autoritet
authorityonheartdisease,even
ako
ifhewereonlya
opći
generalpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.
Dr.Trentwas
preko
overseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeantto
mirovinu
retiresoon.
NoneoftheStirlingclanhadevergonetohim
otkad
sincehehadtoldCousinGladys,
deset
tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginary
i
andthatsheenjoyedit.
Youcouldn’tpatronise
je
adoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomentionthathewas
je
aPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlingswenttotheAnglican
crkvu
church.
CHAPTERII
WhenCousinSticklesknockedather
vrata
door,Valancyknewitwashalf-past
sedam
sevenandshemustgetup.
Aslongasshecould
sjetiti
remember,CousinStickleshadknockedather
vrata
doorathalf-pastseven.
CousinStickles
i
andMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenupsinceseven,
ali
butValancywasallowedtolieabed
pola
halfanhourlongerbecauseof
je
afamilytraditionthatshewasdelicate.
Valancygotup,
iako
thoughshehatedgettingup
više
morethismorningthanevershehad
prije
before.