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The Blue Castle | Progressively Translated Dutch A1 Books

The Blue Castle | Progressively Translated Dutch A1 Books

Unlock the potential of this modern translation approach, designed to enhance your language learning experience. By allowing you to choose your difficulty level, it guarantees a personalized challenge that's suited to your progress. This method promotes comprehension by encouraging you to infer the meaning of new words from context, rather than relying heavily on direct translations. Though some translations are obscured to stimulate guessing, it's perfectly fine to consult a dictionary when needed. This technique combines challenge and support, making language learning fun and effective. Explore these translated classics to enjoy literature while advancing your language skills.

CHAPTERI
Ifit
had
hadnotrainedonacertain
Mei
MaymorningValancyStirling’swhole
leven
lifewouldhavebeenentirelydifferent.
She
zou
wouldhavegone,withthe
rest
restofherclan,toAuntWellington’sengagementpicnic
en
andDr.Trentwouldhave
gegaan
gonetoMontreal.
Butitdidrain
en
andyoushallhearwhat
gebeurd
happenedtoherbecauseof
het
it.
Valancywakenedearly,inthelifeless,hopeless
uur
hourjustprecedingdawn.
She
had
hadnotsleptverywell.
Onedoesnot
slaapt
sleepwell,sometimes,whenoneistwenty-nineon
de
themorrow,andunmarried,inacommunity
en
andconnectionwheretheunmarriedaresimplythosewhohavefailedto
krijgen
getaman.
Deerwoodand
de
theStirlingshadlongsincerelegatedValancytohopeless
oude
oldmaidenhood.
ButValancyherself
had
hadneverquiterelinquishedacertainpitiful,shamed,
kleine
littlehopethatRomancewouldcomeherwayyet—never,until
deze
thiswet,horriblemorning,whenshewakenedto
het
thefactthatshewastwenty-nine
en
andunsoughtbyanyman.
Ay,
daar
therelaythesting.
Valancydidnotmindsomuchbeing
een
anoldmaid.
Afterall,she
dacht
thought,beinganoldmaidcouldn’tpossiblybeasdreadfulasbeing
getrouwd
marriedtoanUncleWellington
of
oranUncleBenjamin,or
zelfs
evenanUncleHerbert.
What
pijn
hurtherwasthatshehad
nooit
neverhadachancetobe
iets
anythingbutanoldmaid.
Geen
Nomanhadeverdesired
haar
her.
Thetearscameintohereyesasshe
lag
laytherealoneinthefaintlygreyingdarkness.
Shedarednot
laten
letherselfcryashardasshe
wilde
wantedto,fortworeasons.
Shewas
bang
afraidthatcryingmightbringonanotherattackofthatpain
rond
aroundtheheart.
Shehadhadaspellofit
nadat
aftershehadgotintobed—ratherworse
dan
thananyshehadhadyet.
En
Andshewasafraidher
moeder
motherwouldnoticeherredeyesatbreakfast
en
andkeepatherwithminute,persistent,mosquito-likequestionsregardingthe
oorzaak
causethereof.
“Suppose,”thoughtValancy
met
withaghastlygrin,“Ianswered
met
withtheplaintruth,‘Iamcrying
omdat
becauseIcannotgetmarried.’
Hoe
HowhorrifiedMotherwouldbe—thoughsheisashamed
elke
everydayofherlifeofher
oude
oldmaiddaughter.”
Butof
natuurlijk
courseappearancesshouldbekeptup.
“Itisnot,”Valancy
kon
couldhearhermother’sprim,dictatorialvoiceasserting,“itisnotmaidenlytothinkaboutmen.”
De
Thethoughtofhermother’sexpression
maakte
madeValancylaugh—forshehad
een
asenseofhumournobodyinherclansuspected.
For
die
thatmatter,therewereagood
veel
manythingsaboutValancythat
niemand
nobodysuspected.
Butherlaughterwas
heel
verysuperficialandpresentlyshe
lag
laythere,ahuddled,futilelittlefigure,
luisteren
listeningtotherainpouringdown
buiten
outsideandwatching,withasickdistaste,thechill,merciless
licht
lightcreepingintoherugly,sordid
kamer
room.
Sheknewtheuglinessof
die
thatroombyheart—knewit
en
andhatedit.
Theyellow-paintedfloor,
met
withonehideous,“hooked”rugbythe
bed
bed,withagrotesque,“hooked”
hond
dogonit,alwaysgrinningather
als
whensheawoke;
thefaded,dark-redpaper;
het
theceilingdiscolouredbyoldleaks
en
andcrossedbycracks;
thenarrow,pinched
kleine
littlewashstand;
thebrown-paperlambrequin
met
withpurplerosesonit;
de
thespottedoldlooking-glasswith
de
thecrackacrossit,proppedupon
de
theinadequatedressing-table;
thejarofancientpotpourri
gemaakt
madebyhermotherinhermythicalhoneymoon;
de
theshell-coveredbox,withoneburstcorner,
die
whichCousinStickleshadmadeinherequallymythicalgirlhood;
thebeadedpincushion
met
withhalfitsbeadfringegone;
de
theonestiff,yellowchair;
het
thefadedoldmotto,“Gonebutnotforgotten,”
werkte
workedincolouredyarnsaboutGreat-grand-motherStirling’sgrim
oude
oldface;
theoldphotographsofancientrelatives
lang
longbanishedfromtheroomsbelow.
Er
Therewereonlytwopictures
die
thatwerenotofrelatives.
One,an
oude
oldchromoofapuppy
zit
sittingonarainydoorstep.
Die
ThatpicturealwaysmadeValancyunhappy.
Die
Thatforlornlittledogcrouchedon
de
thedoorstepinthedrivingrain!
Waarom
Whydidn’tsomeoneopen
de
thedoorandlethimin?
De
Theotherpicturewasafaded,passe-partoutedengravingofQueenLouisecomingdown
een
astairway,whichAuntWellington
had
hadlavishlygivenheronhertenthbirthday.
Fornineteenyearsshe
had
hadlookedatitand
gehaat
hatedit,beautiful,smug,self-satisfiedQueenLouise.
Maar
Butsheneverdareddestroyit
of
orremoveit.
MotherandCousinStickles
zouden
wouldhavebeenaghast,or,asValancyirreverentlyexpresseditinherthoughts,
zouden
wouldhavehadafit.
Elke
Everyroominthehousewasugly,of
natuurlijk
course.
Butdownstairsappearanceswerekeptupsomewhat.
Er
Therewasnomoneyforrooms
niemand
nobodyeversaw.
Valancysometimes
gevoel
feltthatshecouldhave
doen
donesomethingforherroomherself,
zelfs
evenwithoutmoney,ifshewerepermitted.
Maar
Buthermotherhadnegatived
elke
everytimidsuggestionandValancydidnotpersist.
Valancy
nooit
neverpersisted.
Shewasafraid
te
to.
Hermothercouldnotbrookopposition.
Mrs.Stirling
zou
wouldsulkfordaysifoffended,
met
withtheairsofaninsultedduchess.
Het
TheonlythingValancylikedabouther
kamer
roomwasthatshecouldbealonethereatnighttocry
als
ifshewantedto.
But,afterall,what
deed
diditmatterifa
kamer
room,whichyouusedfornothingexcept
slapen
sleepinganddressingin,wereugly?
Valancywas
nooit
neverpermittedtostayaloneinher
kamer
roomforanyotherpurpose.
Mensen
Peoplewhowantedtobealone,soMrs.FrederickStirling
en
andCousinSticklesbelieved,couldonly
willen
wanttobealoneforsomesinisterpurpose.
Maar
ButherroomintheBlueCastlewas
alles
everythingaroomshouldbe.
Valancy,socowed
en
andsubduedandoverriddenandsnubbedin
echte
reallife,waswontto
laten
letherselfgorathersplendidlyinherday-dreams.
Niemand
NobodyintheStirlingclan,
of
oritsramifications,suspectedthis,leastofallher
moeder
motherandCousinStickles.
They
nooit
neverknewthatValancyhad
twee
twohomes—theuglyredbrickboxof
een
ahome,onElmStreet,
en
andtheBlueCastleinSpain.
Valancyhad
leefde
livedspirituallyintheBlueCastleever
sinds
sinceshecouldremember.
Shehadbeen
een
averytinychildwhenshefoundherselfpossessedofit.
Altijd
Always,whensheshuthereyes,she
kon
couldseeitplainly,withitsturrets
en
andbannersonthepine-cladmountainheight,wrappedinitsfaint,blueloveliness,
tegen
againstthesunsetskiesof
een
afairandunknownland.
Alles
Everythingwonderfulandbeautifulwasin
dat
thatcastle.
Jewelsthatqueensmight
hebben
haveworn;
robesofmoonlight
en
andfire;
couchesofroses
en
andgold;
longflightsofshallowmarblesteps,
met
withgreat,whiteurns,and
met
withslender,mist-cladmaidensgoingup
en
anddownthem;
courts,marble-pillared,
waar
whereshimmeringfountainsfellandnightingales
zongen
sangamongthemyrtles;
hallsofmirrors
die
thatreflectedonlyhandsomeknights
en
andlovelywomen—herselftheloveliestofall,forwhoseglancemen
stierven
died.
Allthatsupportedher
door
throughtheboredomofherdayswasthe
hoop
hopeofgoingonadreamspreeatnight.
Meeste
Most,ifnotall,of
de
theStirlingswouldhavediedofhorror
als
iftheyhadknownhalf
de
thethingsValancydidinherBlueCastle.
Foronethingshe
had
hadquiteafewloversinit.
Oh,onlyoneata
keer
time.
Onewhowooedher
met
withalltheromanticardouroftheageofchivalry
en
andwonherafterlongdevotion
en
andmanydeedsofderring-do,
en
andwasweddedtoher
met
withpompandcircumstanceinthe
grote
great,banner-hungchapeloftheBlueCastle.
Attwelve,
deze
thisloverwasafairlad
met
withgoldencurlsandheavenlyblueeyes.
Atfifteen,hewastall
en
anddarkandpale,but
nog steeds
stillnecessarilyhandsome.
Attwenty,hewasascetic,dreamy,spiritual.
Attwenty-five,he
had
hadaclean-cutjaw,slightlygrim,
en
andafacestrongandruggedratherthanhandsome.
Valancy
nooit
nevergrewolderthantwenty-fiveinherBlueCastle,
maar
butrecently—veryrecently—herherohad
had
hadreddish,tawnyhair,atwistedsmile
en
andamysteriouspast.
Idon’t
zeg
sayValancydeliberatelymurderedtheseloversassheoutgrewthem.
Ene
Onesimplyfadedawayas
andere
anothercame.
Thingsareveryconvenientin
dit
thisrespectinBlueCastles.
Maar
But,onthismorningofher
dag
dayoffate,Valancycouldnot
vinden
findthekeyofherBlueCastle.
Realitypressedonher
te
toohardly,barkingatherheels
als
likeamaddeninglittledog.
Shewastwenty-nine,lonely,undesired,ill-favoured—the
enige
onlyhomelygirlinahandsomeclan,withno
verleden
pastandnofuture.
As
ver
farasshecouldlook
terug
back,lifewasdrabandcolourless,
met
withnotonesinglecrimson
of
orpurplespotanywhere.
Asfarasshe
kon
couldlookforwarditseemedcertaintobejustthe
hetzelfde
sameuntilshewasnothingbut
een
asolitary,littlewitheredleafclingingto
een
awintrybough.
Themomentwhen
een
awomanrealisesthatshe
heeft
hasnothingtolivefor—neither
liefde
love,duty,purposenorhope—holdsforherthebitternessof
dood
death.
“AndIjusthavetogoonliving
omdat
becauseIcan’tstop.
Imayhaveto
leven
liveeightyyears,”thoughtValancy,in
een
akindofpanic.
“We’reallhorriblylong-lived.
Itsickensmeto
denken
thinkofit.”
Shewasgladitwasraining—orrather,shewasdrearilysatisfied
dat
thatitwasraining.
There
zou
wouldbenopicnicthat
dag
day.
Thisannualpicnic,wherebyAunt
en
andUncleWellington—onealwaysthoughtofthemin
die
thatsuccession—inevitablycelebratedtheirengagementat
een
apicnicthirtyyearsbefore,hadbeen,oflateyears,
een
averitablenightmaretoValancy.
By
een
animpishcoincidenceitwasthe
dezelfde
samedayasherbirthday
en
and,aftershehadpassedtwenty-five,
niemand
nobodyletherforgetit.
Muchasshe
haatte
hatedgoingtothepicnic,it
zou
wouldneverhaveoccurredtohertorebelagainstit.
Er
Thereseemedtobenothingof
het
therevolutionaryinhernature.
En
Andsheknewexactlywhateveryone
zou
wouldsaytoherat
de
thepicnic.
UncleWellington,whomshedisliked
en
anddespisedeventhoughhe
had
hadfulfilledthehighestStirlingaspiration,“marryingmoney,”
zou
wouldsaytoherin
een
apig’swhisper,“Notthinkingofgetting
trouwen
marriedyet,mydear?”
andthen
gaan
gooffintothebellowoflaughterwithwhichheinvariablyconcludedhisdullremarks.
AuntWellington,ofwhomValancy
stond
stoodinabjectawe,would
vertellen
tellheraboutOlive’snewchiffondress
en
andCecil’slastdevotedletter.
Valancy
zou
wouldhavetolookaspleased
en
andinterestedasifthedress
en
andletterhadbeenhersorelseAuntWellington
zou
wouldbeoffended.
AndValancy
had
hadlongagodecidedthatshe
zou
wouldratheroffendGodthanAuntWellington,
want
becauseGodmightforgiveher
maar
butAuntWellingtonneverwould.
AuntAlberta,enormouslyfat,
met
withanamiablehabitof
altijd
alwaysreferringtoherhusbandas“he,”asifhewerethe
enige
onlymalecreatureinthe
wereld
world,whocouldneverforgetthatshehadbeena
grote
greatbeautyinheryouth,
zou
wouldcondolewithValancyonhersallowskin—.
“Idon’t
weet
knowwhyallthegirlsof
vandaag
todayaresosunburned.
WhenIwas
een
agirlmyskinwasroses
en
andcream.
Iwascounted
het
theprettiestgirlinCanada,mydear.”
Misschien
PerhapsUncleHerbertwouldn’tsayanything—or
misschien
perhapshewouldremarkjocularly,“Howfatyou’regetting,Doss!”
En
Andtheneverybodywouldlaughover
het
theexcessivelyhumorousideaof
arme
poor,scrawnylittleDossgettingfat.
Handsome,solemn
Oom
UncleJames,whomValancydisliked
maar
butrespectedbecausehewasreputedtobe
erg
verycleverandwasthereforetheclanoracle—brainsbeingnonetooplentifulintheStirlingconnection—would
waarschijnlijk
probablyremarkwiththeowl-likesarcasmthat
had
hadwonhimhisreputation,“Isupposeyou’rebusy
met
withyourhope-chestthesedays?”
En
AndUncleBenjaminwouldasksomeofhisabominableconundrums,
tussen
betweenwheezychuckles,andanswerthemhimself.
“Whatis
het
thedifferencebetweenDossand
een
amouse?
“Themousewishestoharm
de
thecheeseandDosswishestocharm
de
thehe’s.”
Valancyhadheardhim
vragen
askthatriddlefiftytimes
en
andeverytimeshewantedtothrow
iets
somethingathim.
Butshe
nooit
neverdid.
Inthefirst
plaats
place,theStirlingssimplydidnotthrowthings;
in
de
thesecondplace,UncleBenjaminwas
een
awealthyandchildlessoldwidower
en
andValancyhadbeenbroughtupin
de
thefearandadmonitionofhis
geld
money.
Ifsheoffendedhimhe
zou
wouldcutheroutofhiswill—supposingshewereinit.
Valancydidnot
wilde
wanttobecutoutof
Oom
UncleBenjamin’swill.
Shehadbeenpoorallher
leven
lifeandknewthegallingbitternessofit.
Sosheenduredhisriddles
en
andevensmiledtorturedlittlesmiles
over
overthem.
AuntIsabel,downright
en
anddisagreeableasaneastwind,
zou
wouldcriticiseherinsomeway—Valancy
kon
couldnotpredictjusthow,forAuntIsabel
nooit
neverrepeatedacriticism—shefound
iets
somethingnewwithwhichtojabyou
elke
everytime.
AuntIsabelpridedherselfon
zei
sayingwhatshethought,butdidn’tlikeitsowellwhen
andere
otherpeoplesaidwhattheythoughtto
haar
her.
Valancyneversaidwhatshe
dacht
thought.
CousinGeorgiana—namedafterhergreat-great-grand-mother,whohadbeennamedafterGeorge
de
theFourth—wouldrecountdolorouslythenamesof
alle
allrelativesandfriendswhohad
gestorven
diedsincethelastpicnic
en
andwonder“whichofus
zal
willbethefirsttogonext.”
Oppressivelycompetent,AuntMildred
zou
wouldtalkendlesslyofher
man
husbandandherodiousprodigiesofbabiestoValancy,
omdat
becauseValancywouldbethe
enige
onlyoneshecouldfindtoputupwithit.
For
de
thesamereason,CousinGladys—reallyFirstCousinGladys
eens
onceremoved,accordingtothestrict
manier
wayinwhichtheStirlingstabulatedrelationship—atall,thin
dame
ladywhoadmittedshehad
een
asensitivedisposition,woulddescribeminutely
de
thetorturesofherneuritis.
En
AndOlive,thewondergirlofthe
hele
wholeStirlingclan,whohad
alles
everythingValancyhadnot—beauty,popularity,love,—would
laten zien
showoffherbeautyandpresumeonherpopularity
en
andflauntherdiamondinsigniaof
liefde
loveinValancy’sdazzled,enviouseyes.
Er
Therewouldbenoneofall
dit
thistoday.
Andtherewouldbe
geen
nopackingupofteaspoons.
Het
ThepackingupwasalwaysleftforValancy
en
andCousinStickles.
Andonce,
zes
sixyearsago,asilverteaspoonfromAuntWellington’sweddingsethadbeen
verloren
lost.
Valancyneverheardthe
laatste
lastofthatsilverteaspoon.
ItsghostappearedBanquo-likeat
elk
everysubsequentfamilyfeast.
Oh,
ja
yes,Valancyknewexactlywhat
de
thepicnicwouldbelike
en
andsheblessedtherain
die
thathadsavedherfromit.
Er
Therewouldbenopicnic
dit
thisyear.
IfAuntWellington
kon
couldnotcelebrateonthesacred
dag
dayitselfshewouldhave
geen
nocelebrationatall.
Thankwhatevergods
er
therewereforthat.
Since
er
therewouldbenopicnic,Valancymadeuphermind
dat
that,iftherainheldupin
de
theafternoon,shewouldgoupto
de
thelibraryandgetanotherofJohnFoster’s
boek
books.
Valancywasneverallowedto
lezen
readnovels,butJohnFoster’s
boeken
bookswerenotnovels.
Theywere“naturebooks”—sothelibrarian
vertelde
toldMrs.FrederickStirling—“allaboutthewoods
en
andbirdsandbugsandthingslikethat,youknow.”
SoValancywasallowedto
lezen
readthem—underprotest,foritwasonlytooevident
dat
thatsheenjoyedthemtoo
veel
much.
Itwaspermissible,evenlaudable,to
lezen
readtoimproveyourmind
en
andyourreligion,buta
boek
bookthatwasenjoyablewasdangerous.
Valancydidnot
wist
knowwhetherhermindwasbeingimprovedornot;
maar
butshefeltvaguelythat
als
ifshehadcomeacrossJohnFoster’s
boeken
booksyearsagolifemight
had
havebeenadifferentthingfor
haar
her.
Theyseemedtohertoyieldglimpsesof
een
aworldintowhichshemightoncehaveentered,though
de
thedoorwasforeverbarredtoher
nu
now.
Itwasonlywithinthe
laatste
lastyearthatJohnFoster’s
boeken
bookshadbeenintheDeerwoodlibrary,thoughthelibrarian
vertelde
toldValancythathehadbeen
een
awell-knownwriterforseveralyears.
“Wheredoeshelive?”
Valancy
had
hadasked.
“Nobodyknows.
Fromhis
boeken
bookshemustbeaCanadian,
maar
butnomoreinformationcanbehad.
Hispublisherswon’t
zeggen
sayaword.
QuitelikelyJohnFosteris
een
anomdeplume.
His
boeken
booksaresopopularwecan’t
houden
keeptheminatall,thoughI
echt
reallycan’tseewhatpeople
vinden
findinthemtoraveover.”
“Ithinkthey’rewonderful,”
zei
saidValancy,timidly.
“Oh—well—”
MissClarksonsmiledin
een
apatronisingfashionthatrelegatedValancy’sopinionstolimbo,“Ican’t
zeggen
sayIcaremuchforbugsmyself.
Maar
ButcertainlyFosterseemsto
weten
knowallthereisto
weten
knowaboutthem.”
Valancydidn’t
wist
knowwhethershecaredmuchforbugseither.
ItwasnotJohnFoster’suncannyknowledgeofwildcreatures
en
andinsectlifethatenthralled
haar
her.
Shecouldhardlysaywhatitwas—sometantalisinglureof
een
amysteryneverrevealed—somehintof
een
agreatsecretjusta
beetje
littlefurtheron—somefaint,elusiveechooflovely,
vergeten
forgottenthings—JohnFoster’smagicwasindefinable.
Ja
Yes,shewouldgeta
nieuw
newFosterbook.
Itwas
een
amonthsinceshehadThistleHarvest,sosurely
Moeder
Mothercouldnotobject.
Valancy
had
hadreaditfourtimes—she
kende
knewwholepassagesoffbyheart.
And—she
bijna
almostthoughtshewouldgo
en
andseeDr.Trentaboutthatqueerpain
rond
aroundtheheart.
Ithad
gekomen
comeratheroftenlately,andthepalpitationswere
werden
becomingannoying,nottospeakofanoccasionaldizzy
moment
momentandaqueershortnessofbreath.
Maar
Butcouldshegotoseehim
zonder
withouttellinganyone?
Itwas
een
amostdaringthought.
Noneof
de
theStirlingseverconsulteda
dokter
doctorwithoutholdingafamilycouncil
en
andgettingUncleJames’approval.
Then,they
gingen
wenttoDr.AmbroseMarshofPortLawrence,
die
whohadmarriedSecondCousinAdelaideStirling.
Maar
ButValancydislikedDr.AmbroseMarsh.
En
And,besides,shecouldnotgettoPortLawrence,fifteenmilesaway,
zonder
withoutbeingtakenthere.
Shedidnot
wilde
wantanyonetoknowabouther
hart
heart.
Therewouldbesuch
een
afussmadeandeverymemberof
de
thefamilywouldcomedown
en
andtalkitoverandadviseher
en
andcautionherandwarnher
en
andtellherhorribletalesofgreat-aunts
en
andcousinsfortytimesremovedwhohadbeen“justlikethat”
en
and“droppeddeadwithoutamoment’swarning,mydear.”
AuntIsabel
zou
wouldrememberthatshehad
altijd
alwayssaidDosslookedlike
een
agirlwhowouldhavehearttrouble—“sopinched
en
andpeakedalways”;
andUncleWellington
zou
wouldtakeitasapersonalinsult,when“noStirlingeverhadheartdiseasebefore”;
en
andGeorgianawouldforebodeinperfectlyaudibleasides
dat
that“poor,dearlittleDossisn’t
lang
longforthisworld,I’mafraid”;
en
andCousinGladyswouldsay,“Why,my
hart
hearthasbeenlikethatforyears,”inatonethatimpliednooneelse
had
hadanybusinessevento
had
haveaheart;
andOlive—Olive
zou
wouldmerelylookbeautifulandsuperior
en
anddisgustinglyhealthy,asifto
zeggen
say,“Whyallthisfuss
over
overafadedsuperfluitylikeDosswhenyouhaveme?”
Valancyfelt
dat
thatshecouldn’ttellanybodyunlessshehadto.
She
voelde
feltquitesuretherewasnothingat
al
allseriouslywrongwithher
hart
heartandnoneedof
al
allthepotherthatwouldensue
als
ifshementionedit.
She
zou
wouldjustslipupquietlyandseeDr.Trent
die
thatveryday.
Asforhisbill,she
had
hadthetwohundreddollarsthather
vader
fatherhadputinthebankforher
de
thedayshewasborn.
Shewasneverallowedto
gebruiken
useeventheinterestofthis,
maar
butshewouldsecretlytake
uit
outenoughtopayDr.Trent.
Dr.
Trentwas
een
agruff,outspoken,absent-mindedoldfellow,
maar
buthewasarecognisedauthorityon
hart
heartdisease,evenifhewereonly
een
ageneralpractitionerinout-of-the-worldDeerwood.
Dr.Trentwasoverseventy
en
andtherehadbeenrumours
dat
thathemeanttoretire
binnenkort
soon.
NoneoftheStirlingclan
had
hadevergonetohim
sinds
sincehehadtoldCousinGladys,
tien
tenyearsbefore,thatherneuritiswasallimaginary
en
andthatsheenjoyedit.
Youcouldn’tpatronisea
dokter
doctorwhoinsultedyourfirst-cousin-once-removedlikethat—nottomentionthathewasaPresbyterian
toen
whenalltheStirlingswentto
de
theAnglicanchurch.
CHAPTERII
Toen
WhenCousinSticklesknockedather
deur
door,Valancyknewitwashalf-pastseven
en
andshemustgetup.
Aslongasshe
kon
couldremember,CousinStickleshadknockedather
deur
doorathalf-pastseven.
CousinStickles
en
andMrs.FrederickStirlinghadbeenup
sinds
sinceseven,butValancywasallowedto
liggen
lieabedhalfanhourlongerbecauseofafamilytradition
dat
thatshewasdelicate.
Valancygotup,thoughshehatedgettingupmorethismorning
dan
thanevershehadbefore.