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The Blue Castle | Gradually Hardening Danish A1

The Blue Castle | Gradually Hardening Danish A1

This progressive translation technique brings multiple benefits to language learners. It lets you choose the difficulty level that matches your abilities, making sure the material is challenging but not too difficult. By focusing on understanding words in context, this method boosts your comprehension skills. While direct translations are slightly hidden to promote guessing from context, you can always check unfamiliar words. This approach makes learning a new language both engaging and accessible, offering the right mix of difficulty and encouragement. Embark on a journey through translated classics and enjoy the process of learning through reading.

CHAPTERI
Ifithadnotrainedon
en
acertainMaymorningValancyStirling’swhole
liv
lifewouldhavebeenentirely
anderledes
different.
Shewouldhavegone,
med
withtherestofherclan,toAuntWellington’sengagementpicnic
og
andDr.TrentwouldhavegonetoMontreal.
Men
Butitdidrainandyoushall
høre
hearwhathappenedtoherbecauseof
det
it.
Valancywakenedearly,in
den
thelifeless,hopelesshourjustprecedingdawn.
She
havde
hadnotsleptverywell.
Onedoesnot
sover
sleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineonthemorrow,
og
andunmarried,inacommunity
og
andconnectionwheretheunmarriedaresimplythose
der
whohavefailedtogeta
mand
man.
DeerwoodandtheStirlings
havde
hadlongsincerelegatedValancytohopeless
gammel
oldmaidenhood.
ButValancyherself
havde
hadneverquiterelinquishedacertainpitiful,shamed,
lille
littlehopethatRomancewould
komme
comeherwayyet—never,until
denne
thiswet,horriblemorning,whenshewakenedto
det
thefactthatshewastwenty-nine
og
andunsoughtbyanyman.
Ay,
der
therelaythesting.
Valancydidnotmindso
meget
muchbeinganoldmaid.
After
alt
all,shethought,beingan
gammel
oldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeing
gift
marriedtoanUncleWellington
eller
oranUncleBenjamin,or
endda
evenanUncleHerbert.
What
sårede
hurtherwasthatshehad
aldrig
neverhadachancetobe
noget
anythingbutanoldmaid.
Ingen
Nomanhadeverdesired
hende
her.
Thetearscameintohereyesasshe
lå
laytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.
Shedarednot
lade
letherselfcryashardasshe
ville
wantedto,fortworeasons.
Shewas
bange
afraidthatcryingmightbringon
et andet
anotherattackofthatpain
omkring
aroundtheheart.
Shehadhad
en
aspellofitaftershehadgotintobed—ratherworse
end
thananyshehadhad
endnu
yet.
Andshewasafraidher
mor
motherwouldnoticeherredeyesatbreakfast
og
andkeepatherwith
minut
minute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthecausethereof.
“Suppose,”
tænkte
thoughtValancywithaghastlygrin,“I
svarede
answeredwiththeplaintruth,‘Iamcrying
fordi
becauseIcannotgetmarried.’
Hvor
HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamed
hver
everydayofherlifeofher
gamle
oldmaiddaughter.”
Butof
selvfølgelig
courseappearancesshouldbekept
oppe
up.
“Itisnot,”Valancy
kunne
couldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorialvoiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlyto
tænke
thinkaboutmen.”
Thethoughtofhermother’sexpressionmadeValancylaugh—forshehad
en
asenseofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.
Forthatmatter,therewereagood
mange
manythingsaboutValancythat
ingen
nobodysuspected.
Butherlaughterwas
meget
verysuperficialandpresentlyshe
lå
laythere,ahuddled,futile
lille
littlefigure,listeningtotherainpouring
ned
downoutsideandwatching,with
en
asickdistaste,thechill,merciless
lys
lightcreepingintoherugly,sordid
værelse
room.
Sheknewtheuglinessofthatroombyheart—knewit
og
andhatedit.
Theyellow-paintedfloor,
med
withonehideous,“hooked”rugbythe
sengen
bed,withagrotesque,“hooked”
hund
dogonit,alwaysgrinningather
når
whensheawoke;
thefaded,dark-redpaper;
theceilingdiscolouredby
gamle
oldleaksandcrossedbycracks;
den
thenarrow,pinchedlittlewashstand;
thebrown-paperlambrequin
med
withpurplerosesonit;
thespotted
gamle
oldlooking-glasswiththecrackacrossit,propped
op
upontheinadequatedressing-table;
thejarofancientpotpourri
lavet
madebyhermotherinhermythicalhoneymoon;
den
theshell-coveredbox,withoneburstcorner,
som
whichCousinStickleshadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;
den
thebeadedpincushionwithhalfitsbeadfringegone;
den
theonestiff,yellowchair;
det
thefadedoldmotto,“Gone
men
butnotforgotten,”workedincolouredyarns
om
aboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrimold
ansigt
face;
theoldphotographsofancientrelativeslongbanishedfrom
de
theroomsbelow.
Therewere
kun
onlytwopicturesthatwerenotofrelatives.
One,an
gammel
oldchromoofapuppy
sidder
sittingonarainydoorstep.
Thatpicture
altid
alwaysmadeValancyunhappy.
Thatforlorn
lille
littledogcrouchedonthedoorstepinthedrivingrain!
Hvorfor
Whydidn’tsomeoneopenthe
døren
doorandlethimin?
Det
Theotherpicturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingofQueenLouise
kommer
comingdownastairway,whichAuntWellington
havde
hadlavishlygivenheronhertenthbirthday.
Fornineteenyearsshe
havde
hadlookedatitand
hadet
hatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfiedQueenLouise.
Men
Butsheneverdareddestroyit
eller
orremoveit.
MotherandCousinStickles
ville
wouldhavebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,
ville
wouldhavehadafit.
Alle
Everyroominthehousewasugly,of
selvfølgelig
course.
Butdownstairsappearanceswere
holdt
keptupsomewhat.
Therewasno
penge
moneyforroomsnobodyever
så
saw.
Valancysometimesfeltthatshe
kunne
couldhavedonesomethingforher
værelse
roomherself,evenwithoutmoney,
hvis
ifshewerepermitted.
Buther
mor
motherhadnegativedeverytimidsuggestion
og
andValancydidnotpersist.
Valancy
aldrig
neverpersisted.
Shewasafraidto.
Her
mor
mothercouldnotbrookopposition.
Mrs.Stirling
ville
wouldsulkfordaysifoffended,
med
withtheairsofaninsultedduchess.
Det
TheonlythingValancyliked
om
aboutherroomwasthatshe
kunne
couldbealonethereat
natten
nighttocryifshe
ville
wantedto.
But,afterall,whatdiditmatterif
et
aroom,whichyouusedfornothingexcept
sove
sleepinganddressingin,wereugly?
Valancywas
aldrig
neverpermittedtostayaloneinher
værelse
roomforanyotherpurpose.
Folk
Peoplewhowantedtobe
alene
alone,soMrs.FrederickStirling
og
andCousinSticklesbelieved,could
kun
onlywanttobealonefor
nogle
somesinisterpurpose.
Buther
værelse
roomintheBlueCastlewas
alt
everythingaroomshouldbe.
Valancy,socowed
og
andsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedin
virkelige
reallife,waswontto
lade
letherselfgorathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.
Ingen
NobodyintheStirlingclan,
eller
oritsramifications,suspectedthis,
mindst
leastofallhermother
og
andCousinStickles.
Theynever
vidste
knewthatValancyhadtwohomes—theugly
røde
redbrickboxofa
hjem
home,onElmStreet,andtheBlueCastleinSpain.
Valancy
havde
hadlivedspirituallyintheBlueCastleever
siden
sinceshecouldremember.
She
havde
hadbeenaverytiny
barn
childwhenshefoundherselfpossessedof
det
it.
Always,whensheshuthereyes,she
kunne
couldseeitplainly,withitsturrets
og
andbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinitsfaint,blueloveliness,
mod
againstthesunsetskiesof
et
afairandunknownland.
Alt
Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasinthatcastle.
Jewelsthatqueens
kunne
mighthaveworn;
robesofmoonlight
og
andfire;
couchesofroses
og
andgold;
longflightsofshallowmarblesteps,
med
withgreat,whiteurns,and
med
withslender,mist-cladmaidensgoing
op
upanddownthem;
courts,marble-pillared,
hvor
whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingales
sang
sangamongthemyrtles;
hallsofmirrors
der
thatreflectedonlyhandsomeknights
og
andlovelywomen—herselftheloveliestof
alle
all,forwhoseglancemen
døde
died.
Allthatsupportedher
gennem
throughtheboredomofherdayswas
det
thehopeofgoingon
en
adreamspreeatnight.
De fleste
Most,ifnotall,oftheStirlings
ville
wouldhavediedofhorror
hvis
iftheyhadknownhalfthethingsValancy
gjorde
didinherBlueCastle.
Foronethingshe
havde
hadquiteafewloversin
det
it.
Oh,onlyoneatatime.
En
Onewhowooedherwith
al
alltheromanticardourof
den
theageofchivalryand
vandt
wonherafterlongdevotion
og
andmanydeedsofderring-do,
og
andwasweddedtoher
med
withpompandcircumstancein
den
thegreat,banner-hungchapelof
den
theBlueCastle.
Attwelve,
denne
thisloverwasafairlad
med
withgoldencurlsandheavenlyblueeyes.
Atfifteen,hewastall
og
anddarkandpale,but
stadig
stillnecessarilyhandsome.
Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.
Attwenty-five,he
havde
hadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,
og
andafacestrongandruggedrather
end
thanhandsome.
Valancynevergrewolder
end
thantwenty-fiveinherBlueCastle,
men
butrecently—veryrecently—herherohad
havde
hadreddish,tawnyhair,atwistedsmile
og
andamysteriouspast.
Idon’t
siger
sayValancydeliberatelymurderedtheseloversassheoutgrew
dem
them.
Onesimplyfadedawayas
anden
anothercame.
Thingsareveryconvenientin
denne
thisrespectinBlueCastles.
Men
But,onthismorningofher
dag
dayoffate,Valancycouldnot
finde
findthekeyofherBlueCastle.
Realitypressedonher
for
toohardly,barkingatherheels
som
likeamaddeninglittledog.
Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—the
eneste
onlyhomelygirlinahandsomeclan,withnopast
og
andnofuture.
Asfarasshe
kunne
couldlookback,lifewasdrab
og
andcolourless,withnotonesinglecrimson
eller
orpurplespotanywhere.
As
vidt
farasshecouldlookforwarditseemedcertaintobe
lige
justthesameuntilshewas
intet
nothingbutasolitary,littlewitheredleafclingingto
en
awintrybough.
Themomentwhen
en
awomanrealisesthatshe
har
hasnothingtolivefor—neither
kærlighed
love,duty,purposenorhope—holdsforher
det
thebitternessofdeath.
“AndIjust
nødt
havetogoonlivingbecauseIcan’t
stoppe
stop.
Imayhaveto
leve
liveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,in
en
akindofpanic.
“We’re
alle
allhorriblylong-lived.
Itsickensmeto
tænke
thinkofit.”
Shewasgladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfied
at
thatitwasraining.
There
ville
wouldbenopicnicthat
dag
day.
Thisannualpicnic,wherebyAunt
og
andUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtoftheminthatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementatapicnicthirtyyears
før
before,hadbeen,oflateyears,averitablenightmaretoValancy.
By
en
animpishcoincidenceitwasthe
samme
samedayasherbirthday
og
and,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,
ingen
nobodyletherforgetit.
Meget
Muchasshehatedgoingtothepicnic,it
ville
wouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebel
mod
againstit.
Thereseemedtobe
noget
nothingoftherevolutionaryinhernature.
Og
Andsheknewexactlywhat
alle
everyonewouldsaytoheratthepicnic.
Onkel
UncleWellington,whomshedisliked
og
anddespisedeventhoughhe
havde
hadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”
ville
wouldsaytoherin
en
apig’swhisper,“Notthinkingofgettingmarriedyet,mydear?”
og
andthengooffintothebellowoflaughterwith
som
whichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.
AuntWellington,ofwhomValancy
stod
stoodinabjectawe,would
fortælle
tellheraboutOlive’snewchiffondress
og
andCecil’slastdevotedletter.
Valancy
ville
wouldhavetolookaspleased
og
andinterestedasifthedress
og
andletterhadbeenhersorelseAuntWellington
ville
wouldbeoffended.
AndValancy
havde
hadlongagodecidedthatshe
ville
wouldratheroffendGodthanAuntWellington,
fordi
becauseGodmightforgiveher
men
butAuntWellingtonneverwould.
AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,
med
withanamiablehabitof
altid
alwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifhewere
den
theonlymalecreaturein
den
theworld,whocouldnever
glemme
forgetthatshehadbeena
stor
greatbeautyinheryouth,
ville
wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallowskin—.
“Idon’t
ved
knowwhyallthegirlsoftodayaresosunburned.
Da
WhenIwasagirlmyskinwasroses
og
andcream.
Iwascounted
den
theprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”
Måske
PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—or
måske
perhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howfatyou’re
bliver
getting,Doss!”
Andtheneverybody
ville
wouldlaughovertheexcessivelyhumorous
idé
ideaofpoor,scrawnylittleDoss
blev
gettingfat.
Handsome,solemnUncleJames,whomValancydisliked
men
butrespectedbecausehewasreputedtobe
meget
verycleverandwastherefore
den
theclanoracle—brainsbeingnone
for
tooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—would
sandsynligvis
probablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthat
havde
hadwonhimhisreputation,“Isupposeyou’rebusy
med
withyourhope-chestthesedays?”
Og
AndUncleBenjaminwouldask
nogle
someofhisabominableconundrums,
mellem
betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.
“WhatisthedifferencebetweenDoss
og
andamouse?
“Themousewishestoharmthecheese
og
andDosswishestocharmthehe’s.”
Valancy
havde
hadheardhimaskthatriddlefiftytimes
og
andeverytimeshewantedtothrow
noget
somethingathim.
Butshe
aldrig
neverdid.
Inthefirstplace,
det
theStirlingssimplydidnotthrowthings;
in
det
thesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwas
en
awealthyandchildlessoldwidower
og
andValancyhadbeenbroughtupin
det
thefearandadmonitionofhis
penge
money.
Ifsheoffendedhimhe
ville
wouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewerein
det
it.
Valancydidnotwanttobe
skåret
cutoutofUncleBenjamin’swill.
She
havde
hadbeenpoorallher
liv
lifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.
Sosheenduredhisriddles
og
andevensmiledtorturedlittlesmiles
over
overthem.
AuntIsabel,downright
og
anddisagreeableasaneastwind,
ville
wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancy
kunne
couldnotpredictjusthow,forAuntIsabel
aldrig
neverrepeatedacriticism—shefound
noget
somethingnewwithwhichtojabyou
hver
everytime.
AuntIsabelpridedherselfonsayingwhatshethought,
men
butdidn’tlikeitsowell
når
whenotherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughtto
hende
her.
Valancyneversaidwhatshe
tænkte
thought.
CousinGeorgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamed
efter
afterGeorgetheFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesof
alle
allrelativesandfriendswhohad
døde
diedsincethelastpicnic
og
andwonder“whichofus
vil
willbethefirstto
gå
gonext.”
Oppressivelycompetent,AuntMildred
ville
wouldtalkendlesslyofher
mand
husbandandherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,
fordi
becauseValancywouldbethe
eneste
onlyoneshecouldfindtoputup
med
withit.
Forthesame
grund
reason,CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladysonceremoved,accordingto
den
thestrictwayinwhich
den
theStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thin
dame
ladywhoadmittedshehad
en
asensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutely
den
thetorturesofherneuritis.
Og
AndOlive,thewondergirlof
den
thewholeStirlingclan,who
havde
hadeverythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—would
vise
showoffherbeautyandpresumeonherpopularity
og
andflauntherdiamondinsigniaof
kærlighed
loveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.
Der
Therewouldbenoneofallthistoday.
Og
Andtherewouldbenopacking
op
upofteaspoons.
Thepackingupwas
altid
alwaysleftforValancyandCousinStickles.
Og
Andonce,sixyearsago,
en
asilverteaspoonfromAuntWellington’sweddingsethadbeen
tabt
lost.
Valancyneverheardthe
sidste
lastofthatsilverteaspoon.
ItsghostappearedBanquo-likeat
hver
everysubsequentfamilyfeast.
Oh,
ja
yes,Valancyknewexactlywhatthepicnic
ville
wouldbelikeandsheblessedtherain
der
thathadsavedherfromit.
Der
Therewouldbenopicnicthis
år
year.
IfAuntWellingtoncouldnotcelebrateon
den
thesacreddayitselfshe
ville
wouldhavenocelebrationatall.
Tak
Thankwhatevergodstherewereforthat.
Da
Sincetherewouldbenopicnic,Valancymade
op
uphermindthat,iftherain
holdt
heldupintheafternoon,she
ville
wouldgouptothelibrary
og
andgetanotherofJohnFoster’sbooks.
Valancywas
aldrig
neverallowedtoreadnovels,
men
butJohnFoster’sbookswerenotnovels.
Theywere“naturebooks”—sothelibrarian
fortalte
toldMrs.FrederickStirling—“allaboutthewoods
og
andbirdsandbugsandthingslikethat,youknow.”
SoValancywasallowedto
læse
readthem—underprotest,foritwas
kun
onlytooevidentthatsheenjoyedthemtoo
meget
much.
Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,to
læse
readtoimproveyourmind
og
andyourreligion,buta
bog
bookthatwasenjoyablewasdangerous.
Valancydidnot
vidste
knowwhetherhermindwasbeingimproved
eller
ornot;
butshefeltvaguely
at
thatifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’sbooksyears
siden
agolifemighthavebeena
anderledes
differentthingforher.
Theyseemedtohertoyieldglimpsesof
en
aworldintowhichshe
kunne
mightoncehaveentered,thoughthe
døren
doorwasforeverbarredtoher
nu
now.
Itwasonlywithinthe
sidste
lastyearthatJohnFoster’sbooks
havde
hadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,
selv
thoughthelibrariantoldValancy
at
thathehadbeenawell-knownwriterforseveralyears.
“Wheredoeshelive?”
Valancy
havde
hadasked.
“Nobodyknows.
Fromhisbookshe
må
mustbeaCanadian,but
ikke
nomoreinformationcanbehad.
Hispublisherswon’t
sige
sayaword.
QuitelikelyJohnFosteris
et
anomdeplume.
Hisbooksaresopopularwecan’t
holde
keeptheminatall,
selv
thoughIreallycan’tseewhat
folk
peoplefindinthemtoraveover.”
“I
synes
thinkthey’rewonderful,”saidValancy,timidly.
“Oh—well—”
Miss
MissClarksonsmiledinapatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’t
sige
sayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.
Men
ButcertainlyFosterseemsto
vide
knowallthereisto
vide
knowaboutthem.”
Valancydidn’t
vidste
knowwhethershecaredmuchforbugseither.
ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeofwildcreatures
og
andinsectlifethatenthralled
hende
her.
Shecouldhardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureofamystery
aldrig
neverrevealed—somehintofa
stor
greatsecretjustalittlefurtheron—somefaint,elusiveechooflovely,
glemte
forgottenthings—JohnFoster’smagicwasindefinable.
Ja
Yes,shewouldgeta
ny
newFosterbook.
Itwas
en
amonthsinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosurely
Mor
Mothercouldnotobject.
Valancy
havde
hadreaditfourtimes—she
kendte
knewwholepassagesoffbyheart.
And—she
næsten
almostthoughtshewouldgo
og
andseeDr.Trentabout
at
thatqueerpainaroundthe
hjertet
heart.
Ithadcomeratheroftenlately,
og
andthepalpitationswerebecomingannoying,notto
tale
speakofanoccasionaldizzy
øjeblik
momentandaqueershortnessofbreath.
Men
Butcouldshegotoseehim
uden
withouttellinganyone?
Itwas
en
amostdaringthought.
NoneoftheStirlingseverconsulteda
læge
doctorwithoutholdingafamilycouncil
og
andgettingUncleJames’approval.
Then,they
gik
wenttoDr.AmbroseMarshofPortLawrence,
som
whohadmarriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.
Men
ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.
Og
And,besides,shecouldnotgettoPortLawrence,fifteenmiles
væk
away,withoutbeingtakenthere.
Shedidnot
ville
wantanyonetoknowabouther
hjerte
heart.
Therewouldbesuch
et
afussmadeandeverymemberofthefamily
ville
wouldcomedownandtalkit
over
overandadviseherandcautionher
og
andwarnherandtellherhorribletalesofgreat-aunts
og
andcousinsfortytimesremovedwho
havde
hadbeen“justlikethat”
og
and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’swarning,mydear.”
AuntIsabel
ville
wouldrememberthatshehad
altid
alwayssaidDosslookedlike
en
agirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinched
og
andpeakedalways”;
andUncleWellington
ville
wouldtakeitasapersonalinsult,
da
when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;
og
andGeorgianawouldforebodeinperfectlyaudibleasides
at
that“poor,dearlittleDossisn’t
længe
longforthisworld,I’mafraid”;
og
andCousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,my
hjerte
hearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatonethatimplied
ingen
nooneelsehadanybusinesseventohavea
hjerte
heart;
andOlive—Olivewouldmerely
se
lookbeautifulandsuperioranddisgustinglyhealthy,asifto
sige
say,“Whyallthisfussover
en
afadedsuperfluitylikeDoss
når
whenyouhaveme?”
Valancy
følte
feltthatshecouldn’ttell
nogen
anybodyunlessshehadto.
She
følte
feltquitesuretherewas
noget
nothingatallseriouslywrong
med
withherheartandnoneedof
alle
allthepotherthatwouldensue
hvis
ifshementionedit.
She
ville
wouldjustslipupquietly
og
andseeDr.Trentthatvery
dag
day.
Asforhisbill,she
havde
hadthetwohundreddollarsthather
far
fatherhadputinthebankforherthe
dag
dayshewasborn.
Shewas
aldrig
neverallowedtouseeventheinterestofthis,
men
butshewouldsecretlytake
ud
outenoughtopayDr.Trent.
Dr.
Trentwas
en
agruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,
men
buthewasarecognisedauthorityonheartdisease,
selv
evenifhewereonly
en
ageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.
Dr.Trentwas
over
overseventyandtherehadbeenrumoursthathemeanttoretire
snart
soon.
NoneoftheStirlingclanhadever
gået
gonetohimsincehehadtoldCousinGladys,
ti
tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswas
alt
allimaginaryandthatsheenjoyedit.
Youcouldn’tpatronise
en
adoctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomentionthathewas
en
aPresbyterianwhenalltheStirlings
gik
wenttotheAnglicanchurch.
CHAPTERII
Da
WhenCousinSticklesknockedather
dør
door,Valancyknewitwashalf-pastseven
og
andshemustgetup.
As
længe
longasshecouldremember,CousinStickles
havde
hadknockedatherdoorathalf-pastseven.
CousinStickles
og
andMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeen
oppe
upsinceseven,butValancywasallowedto
ligge
lieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytraditionthatshewasdelicate.
Valancygot
op
up,thoughshehatedgetting
op
upmorethismorningthanevershehad
før
before.